Derrick Jones Jr. leads UNLV to scrimmage victory at USC
Derrick Jones Jr. scored 18 points and Stephen Zimmerman Jr. posted a double-double as freshmen led the way Saturday for UNLV in a closed scrimmage against Southern California in Los Angeles.
The score was tied at 84 after 40 minutes, but the teams played another 12-minute period, and the Rebels rolled to a 113-96 win over the Trojans. The scrimmage was contested at the Galen Center, with fans and media prohibited from attending because of NCAA rules.
"In general, I was happy with how we competed," UNLV coach Dave Rice said. "We're on schedule, but we've got a long way to go. We've got two weeks before we play for real."
The Rebels play their only exhibition against Whittier College on Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center and open the regular season against Cal Poly on Nov. 13.
Zimmerman, a 7-footer from Bishop Gorman High School, finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds in the scrimmage. Senior point guard Jerome Seagears had 16 points. Jones, a 6-7 forward, came off the bench.
Seagears and Zimmerman were in the starting lineup with sophomore guard Patrick McCaw, senior guard Ike Nwamu and junior forward Ben Carter.
Sophomore center Goodluck Okonoboh, who started 29 games last season, did not practice Friday and sat out of the scrimmage because of a sore lower back.
Rice used 12 players. Junior forward Tyrell Green and walk-on freshman guard Austin Starr did not participate in the first 40 minutes but did play in the final 12 minutes when the Rebels outscored the Trojans 29-12.
Despite returning five starters, USC is predicted to be a middle-of-the-pack team in the Pac-12 Conference. Trojans coach Andy Enfield, similar to Rice, pushes his team to run at an up-tempo pace. UNLV's defensive pressure was cracked at times, Rice said, and the Rebels were not always efficient offensively.
"It was an up-and down game," Rice said. "We want to play fast but not settle for too many outside jump shots. We've got to guard the ball better and take care of the ball better. The way we're trying to play defensively, people are going to spread us out and drive the ball.
"We rebounded the ball extremely well, and we also shot free throws well. Those were huge points of emphasis."
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.
