Sore knee slows Rebels’ Jasper

Another knee injury is threatening UNLV senior Derrick Jasper's playing status. This time, however, there seems to be no cause for serious concern.

"I'm not really worried about it," Jasper said.

This time, it's a different knee, and instead of missing an extended stretch, the 6-foot-6-inch guard might sit only one game.

Jasper was limited in practices Thursday and Friday and is questionable to play when the 22nd-ranked Rebels (9-2) host Southern Utah (3-7) at 7 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center.

He said he suffered a minor hyperextension of his right knee during UNLV's 68-62 loss to UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday. He finished the game but felt soreness the next day.

"We'll see how he feels," coach Lon Kruger said, explaining Jasper will be a game-time decision. "It's something to be careful with. It's more likely to hold him out."

Jasper missed the Rebels' final 13 games of last season after going down with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee Jan. 26. In the summer of 2007, before his sophomore year at Kentucky, Jasper needed microfracture surgery on his left knee.

He has regained his explosiveness and is averaging 9.6 points and shooting 47 percent while starting all 11 games.

Jasper said he definitely expects to play Tuesday when the Rebels face No. 6 Kansas State in Kansas City, Mo.

If Jasper sits today, Anthony Marshall will return as a starter. The sophomore started UNLV's first 10 games this season before senior Tre'Von Willis replaced him in the lineup against UCSB.

In reality, UNLV could sit a few starters and probably still handle Southern Utah, which opened its season Nov. 15 with a 10-point home loss to California Baptist.

The Thunderbirds of the Summit League have been more competitive recently. They defeated Oklahoma Panhandle State 68-51 Tuesday, if that means anything.

The Rebels traveled to Cedar City last year and beat Southern Utah 77-59 behind 16 points from Willis.

Still, UNLV is not in position to smirk at an opponent after losing two consecutive games and most likely its ranking in both polls.

"Every team is going to have moments during the year where there's adversity and there's disappointment," Kruger said. "How you bounce back from that is always a big key. So given that we have lost two in a row, it's definitely a test in that way."

The Rebels were double-digit favorites against the Gauchos but got stunned because of a poor offensive performance. UNLV shot a season-low 29 percent, including 6-for-29 from 3-point range.

Willis and Marshall, who switched spots in the rotation, shot a combined 3-for-16 from the field, with Marshall going 0-for-5.

"It shows we have a lot to work on," said Jasper, who had 14 points and six rebounds. "We shot horrible in the game. We need to communicate a lot more on defense. The energy level was there in some spurts. We were a little sloppy."

Kruger blamed the loss mostly on the shooting and added, "We've got to keep working on playing harder and playing smarter."

Jasper said he's not concerned about his sore knee or the Rebels' response to losing.

"It is very disturbing, but I think we have some guys who can handle that," he said. "We know we can play a lot better."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.