Advanced Technolo- gies Academy student Ricardo Lopez, seen in his North Las Vegas home, learned what it's like to cover a college basketball game when the Rebels defeated BYU on Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center. Photo by K.M. Cannon.
EDITOR'S NOTE:Ricardo Lopez is a senior at Advanced Technologies Academy. He is a member of the R-Jeneration team, which offers high school students the chance to work for and with professional journalists. Lopez was selected to cover the BYU-UNLV basketball game on Saturday. Following is an account of his experience.
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To be quite honest, I didn't think UNLV had a chance to win its basketball game against Brigham Young on Saturday night. Senior point guard and team leader Kevin Kruger would not be playing because of an injury.
Las Vegas had a better chance of getting 6 inches of snow than the Rebels had of beating the Cougars -- or so I thought.
Saturday night's game was a unique experience because instead of watching the game from the stands as a spectator, I had the chance to sit courtside on press row. I entered the Thomas & Mack Center through the rear entrance -- where UNLV staff, basketball players and members of the press enter. Yes, it was quite different from the first time I went to a Rebels basketball game last month, pushing through the beer-holding, hot dog-munching fans.
A raucous crowd packed the Thomas & Mack -- even seats in the "nosebleed" sections were occupied. Rebels fans resembled a pride of lions plotting to take down some large prey. Undoubtedly, a win over BYU was crucial if the Rebels plan to compete for the Mountain West Conference title. The Rebels were coming off a tough defeat at Wyoming and they needed to regain some momentum.
As I expected, the game started out in favor of the Cougars. The Rebels' defense was lacking, and BYU led by 11 points at one point during the first half. Although I entirely expected UNLV to lose, I still hoped for a comeback. Perhaps the mass of red, menacing Rebels fans would scare BYU back to Provo.
At halftime, when the game was tied at 36, Rebels fans went nuts booing BYU. The energy was contagious, and I couldn't help but catch Rebels fever when UNLV turned its luck around.
Matt Youmans, who covers UNLV basketball for the Review-Journal elbowed me to stop cheering. No cheering from the press box, he said. I nodded, understanding that the media must not show favoritism. Maybe a seat in the stands would have been better, I thought.
On press row, I was close enough to the players to see the beads of sweat pouring off their faces. To my left sat the BYU team, to my right UNLV.
The difference between the first and second half was striking. For one thing, the BYU coach yelled much more during the second half -- when the Rebels took control en route to an 83-75 victory.
The highlight of the game for me was also one of the scariest moments.
I'm a pretty small guy. I'm only 5 feet 7 inches, 145 pounds, so when 6-5, 205 pound Curtis Terry came careening over the press box and landed on me, I was kind of scared.
At least I can say I saved Terry from serious injury, which might help the Rebels win their next game, Saturday against Texas Christian.
