Rebels lead at the half

Wink Adams scored nine points to lead UNLV to a 27-22 halftime lead over Washburn in an exhibition game at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The Rebels closed the half on a positive note, calling timeout to set up a play that resulted in a driving 3-point play by Brice Massamba.

The freshman set a pick for Tre’Von Willis and got a feed from the Memphis transfer that he layed in as he got fouled.
Rene Rougeau did a little bit of everything, as usual. The senior had four points, five rebounds, two blocks and three steals in the half.

Shuffled lineup

Oscar Bellfield started at point guard for UNLV. Throughout the preseason, it has appeared to be Willis’ job to lose.

Willis entered the game just more than seven minutes into the first half.

The rest of the starting lineup was as expected with Wink Adams, Joe Darger, Rougeau and Darris Santee on the floor. Coach Lon Kruger used 11 players in the half.

Slow start

At the first media timeout, the Rebels had one basket by Rene Rougeau and trailed 6-2. They had made only 1 of 8 shots.
UNLV missed two more attempts before Adams connected with a 3-pointer from the corner.

The scoring picked up, but the shooting didn’t get much better. At the half, UNLV had made only 34.4 percent of its field goals and was 1-for-11 behind the new 3-point line.

Freshman gets loudest ovation

Wink Adams, Joe Darger and Rene Rougeau have been key contributors on back-to-back NCAA Tournament teams. But the night's loudest ovation went to 7-footer Beas Hamga when he entered after the second media timeout.

Hamga is beginning his freshman season after being forced to sit out last season by the NCAA. UNLV fans have apparently been waiting all that time to cheer his name.

He is expected to give the Rebels a shot-blocking presence and it didn’t take him long to make an impact on the defensive end.
On Washburn’s first possession, Hamga changed one of the Ichabods’ shots so much that it hit the side of the backboard. He later set a vicious screen that sent a Washburn player to the floor.

Rare sight

Adams missed all three free-throw attempts in the first half.
He shot nearly 85 percent at the line last season and missed three in one game only once. That came Feb. 26 when he was 5 of 8 against San Diego State.