Trying experiences buoy Rebels safety

No one has been a member of UNLV's football team longer than senior safety Quinton Pointer, who signed in 2006.

He would've been finished last season but was granted an NCAA hardship waiver after suffering a major knee injury, and Pointer this year had to adjust to a position switch from cornerback.

Times also have not been easy for Pointer's Rebels since his arrival, but he said the trying experiences should benefit him after he leaves UNLV.

"I've definitely grown a lot as a person," Pointer said. "As far as the stats and winning games, that hasn't gone my way, but (with) everything else, I've enjoyed my time in Vegas."

Tonight is Pointer's final game at Sam Boyd Stadium when the Rebels (2-8, 1-4 Mountain West Conference) play San Diego State (6-4, 3-3) at 7.

Sixteen seniors will be recognized before the game, including linebacker Bryce Saldi, who suffered a serious brain injury in a skateboarding accident in July 2009.

"It's a big night for (the seniors)," coach Bobby Hauck said. "They've put in a lot of time, a lot of work, and our team will want to send them out winners."

Nearly all the seniors signed with previous coach Mike Sanford will finish with Hauck, who nears the end of his second season. They joined the Rebels with high hopes only to be confronted with the reality of trying to turn around a program that hasn't experienced more victories than losses since 2000.

This has been an especially difficult season, with unexpected losses to Southern Utah and New Mexico, but the Rebels could establish a winning home record for the third time in four years.

But beating San Diego State, a 16-point favorite, won't be easy. The Aztecs run a balanced offense led by quarterback Ryan Lindley and running back Ronnie Hillman.

Lindley's production is off some this season -- he's completing 53.2 percent of his passes -- but he still has thrown for 2,307 yards and 18 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. He is hurt by a receiving corps that hasn't adequately replaced current NFL players Vincent Brown and DeMarco Sampson.

Hillman, who was limited to three carries against Boise State last weekend because of an ankle injury, has shouldered much of the load by rushing for 1,286 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is expected to be close to full strength tonight.

"He's a guy that can make you miss, so it will be challenging for us," Rebels linebacker Nate Carter said.

UNLV's running game has become one of the Mountain West's best, having gained at least 150 yards each of the past five games for the first time since 2002, but its passing game averages 114.7 yards, and its defense allows 39.8 points per game.

That adds up to the Rebels being outscored by an average of three touchdowns per game.

But the Rebels are remarkably different at home. They are 12-12 at home going back to 2008 and 2-21 on the road.

"The only thing we do different on the road is we don't have a chapel service," Hauck said. "Maybe that's got something to do with it. We need all the help we can get."

Hauck said that somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but perhaps the Rebels should appeal to a higher power to solve the home-road issue as well as find a way to beat San Diego State. It would be a memorable way to send out the seniors.

Pointer's parents flew in from Tampa, Fla., to be part of tonight's festivities and celebrate the near-end -- UNLV's season concludes next week at Texas Christian -- of their son's college career.

"It's definitely flown by," Pointer said. "I was happy I got another year to come out and enjoy football."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.