Quiet James making noise for Rebels

      Hardly anyone who sees Kevin James in street clothes, at a fit but unimposing 6-feet, 170 pounds, would guess he's a basketball player.
      Hardly anyone who speaks with him would guess he plays the position that might be the game's most vocal.
      But James, entering what might be the final game of his UNLV basketball career, has defied seeming physical limitations and a soft-spoken nature to become one of the Rebels' more indispensable players.
      Consider the senior reserve's production in the past four games:
      -- Four assists in 23 minutes at Colorado State, a 59-58 loss.
      -- Six assists in 19 minutes against Rice in the Western Athletic Tournament, a 71-61 victory.
      -- Five assists in 20 minutes against Tulsa in the WAC Tournament, a 68-65 loss.
      -- Four points, three assists and three steals in 23 minutes against Memphis in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament, a 66-62 victory that set up Monday's 7:35 p.m. matchup with Hawaii in the second round.
      More revealing, James' playing time has increased substantially since early in the season.
      In the opening seven games, he averaged 10.9 minutes. In the past seven, his minutes have more than doubled to 22.9. James has played 20 or more minutes in six of those games.
      And raw numbers don't include the intangibles, such as James' taking control of UNLV's offense when the Rebels trailed Memphis 55-40 and appeared content to shoot their way out of the game from the perimeter.
      It also doesn't include the suffocating defense he played against shifty Tigers point guard Chris Garner, or the steal he made against Memphis forward Sunday Adebayo with the score tied at 61 in the closing moments that rescued UNLV.
      Even with the strong push in the final few games of the Rebels' season, James doesn't praise his own performance.
      "It's been pretty consistent, I guess," he said Friday after UNLV held an informal workout at the North Gym. "Mark (Dickel) usually starts out strong, and I try to keep it going."
      Dickel has started every game at the point aside from James' lone starting assignment during senior night against Texas Christian on Feb. 22. But the quality minutes in the second half have gone to James.
      Learning to share minutes has been paramount for both players. James started a year ago as a walk-on junior college transfer from Kilgore (Tex.) College, but was replaced before this season by Dickel.
      "I never worry about (playing time)," James said. "I just wanted to take advantage of my chances."
      Dickel said the relationship between the two guards has improved since Dickel arrived at UNLV during the summer.
      "At first I think he might have thought I was after something he had, but that was never the case," Dickel said. "I got here and got to know him, and we help each other. He sees things on the court and might say something, and I'll do the same for him. It's a good relationship."
      Dickel said James has been especially helpful in teaching patience.
      "I've got to remember that I've got four years here, and Kevin has helped me realize that," Dickel said. "I've never sat off (on the bench) and watched the game before this season. I've always played. But I've learned from Kevin to be patient and keep working and play well whenever I have the chance."
      Said James: "It didn't really bother me when Mark got here. I just wanted to come in and play the way I should, but we help each other out a lot. We just want to play and play well."
      James is still a non-scholarship player and has financed his college education through a combination of student loans and assistance from his parents. He expects to graduate in December with a degree in sociology, but hasn't made any concrete plans for his future.
      "It's tough when you're playing basketball to think any further than just the season," he said. "But I might stay here. It's a great city, and I've really enjoyed living here and playing here."
      -- REBEL NOTES -- Center Keon Clark skipped Friday's mandatory weightlifting session due to illness, coach Bill Bayno said. ... Tickets for Monday's game are on sale at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, which is open today and Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 10 a.m. until game time on Monday. ... Sunshine Smith didn't work out Friday as he iced his sore right knee, but is expected to return to practice today. ... Bayno returns today from a two-day recruiting swing through Wisconsin and Louisiana.