UNLV’s Bellfield eagerly awaits game with hometown foe USC

Time has a way of flying by, Oscar Bellfield was saying while quickly reflecting on his three years at UNLV. But there is no chance he will slip through his senior year in any sort of daze.

Bellfield always has been serious about basketball. He's just taking it to another level now.

"I've got to value each day and each moment and play like it's my last," he said. "I've got to cherish it all. You can't get any of these games back or get any moment back.

"Every senior wants to go out in a positive way and do something really big. I just want to win this season. It's my senior year, so I'm ready for every game."

The next one means even more to him. The Rebels (5-0) meet Southern California (2-3) at 4:30 p.m. today in the third round of the Las Vegas Invitational at Orleans Arena. The winner advances to face either South Carolina or No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday.

But Bellfield is not looking ahead a day. He has targeted the Trojans for a long time.

He grew up in Los Angeles about five minutes from the USC campus. As a high school sophomore, he held off from committing to UNLV because he hoped a major local program would come calling.

"I just wanted to wait it out and not rush into anything," he said. "Any person in L.A. wants to go to the big school at home, and that was either UCLA or USC."

The offers never arrived, and the Rebels picked up a dependable point guard. Bellfield is about to play in his 105th game and make his 94th start. He has career totals of 944 points and 418 assists.

"I'm glad I made this choice," he said. "This is better than any place I would have gone."

As a Brigham Young assistant in recent years, first-year UNLV coach Dave Rice watched Bellfield run the Rebels and knew he was inheriting a quality player.

"I could tell Oscar was really committed to winning," Rice said. "What was probably the thing that has been the most pleasant surprise for me is what a terrific leader he is. We can always count on what Oscar brings."

After each practice, Bellfield is one of the last few players who stay to put up extra shots. He's also a student of the game, from his understanding of game plans to his adaptation to scouting reports. He has been a quiet leader, though he said he's making an effort to be more vocal with teammates on and off the floor.

"He's really effective because he does everything right," Rice said. "It's the effort he brings every day. He's very much underrated as a defender. He would much rather make an extra pass than shoot the ball, but he is a very consistent 3-point shooter.

"Oscar is the guy who makes our team go."

Bellfield, sharing point and shooting guard duties with junior Anthony Marshall, has made 14 of 31 (45.2 percent) of his 3-point shots while averaging 12.2 points per game this season.

He should be an important factor in dictating the tempo of play against USC, which is limiting opponents to 56.6 points per game and 34.5 percent field-goal shooting. Physical defense is the signature of teams coached by the Trojans' Kevin O'Neill.

"They are a very tough, hard-nosed defensive team," Rice said. "I believe that most teams over the course of time take on the personality of their coach, and we all know what a tough guy Coach O'Neill is."

The teams' contrasting styles is highlighted by their results against common opponents this week. UNLV blew out Cal Poly (75-52) and Morgan State (92-55). USC fell 42-36 to Cal Poly and overcame a 16-point first-half deficit to defeat Morgan State, 65-62.

"I definitely feel like we've progressed each game," Bellfield said. "I see we have a lot more potential."

Never getting the offer to join the Trojans, Bellfield prefers to beat them.

"It's actually better playing against them," he said. "It will turn out with a win, hopefully."

■ NOTES -- USC upset UNLV 67-56 to win the Diamond Head Classic title in Hawaii on Dec. 25, 2009. … Today's game will not be televised, but video will be streamed on ESPN3.com.

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