UNLV doesn’t mind grind

Because of his NBA background, UNLV coach Lon Kruger is an authority on how to handle a hectic schedule. When every other day is game day, there is little time to practice and prepare for the next opponent.

Kruger lined up a furious first week for the Rebels, who are in the middle of a stretch of five games in 10 days.

It’s something Kruger dealt with often when he coached the Atlanta Hawks from 2000 to 2003.

“It’s that type of schedule,” he said. “But the NBA is even crazier because sometimes you play four games in five days.”

UNLV (3-0) has passed every test, as expected, and next up is a blind date with North Carolina A&T at 7 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center.

After Friday’s practice, Kruger planned to spend some time studying the Aggies (2-1) of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Rebels assistant coach Greg Grensing did the scouting of North Carolina A&T, which lost its only road game 81-62 to Central Florida on Sunday.

“One thing about playing every other day, you don’t get as many days to watch tapes,” Kruger said.

After reviewing film of UNLV’s 87-71 victory over Northern Arizona on Thursday, Kruger gave his team high marks for offensive efficiency. The Rebels scored 54 points in the first half and shot 30-for-51 (59 percent) for the game, including 11-for-19 from 3-point range.

UNLV seniors Wink Adams, Joe Darger, Rene Rougeau and Mareceo Rutledge combined for 46 points and shot 16-for-26.

“I thought it was a big jump in every way,” Kruger said. “I think we’ve made progress in every game, and we have to keep doing that at even a quicker rate.”

Adams, held to five points Tuesday against Texas-Pan American, bounced back Thursday with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. He said fatigue is no factor, and playing games so frequently is a dream scenario for the team.

“The more games we play, the faster our chemistry will come along,” Adams said. “Everybody is really getting their confidence boosted. I think it’s exciting to be playing so many games and up our record.”

Junior forward Darris Santee and freshman point guard Oscar Bellfield are performing well in starting roles.

Off the bench, the Rebels are getting solid contributions from Rutledge, freshman swingman DeShawn Mitchell and sophomore guards Kendall Wallace and Tre’Von Willis.

Wallace scored 14 points against Northern Arizona, two days after Mitchell debuted with 14 against Pan American.

Kruger said he also is pleased with the development of freshmen centers Brice Massamba and Beas Hamga in limited minutes.

“If you look back exactly a week ago, we’ve got our first four games at home. The ideal scenario is to win them all, make a lot of progress, play a lot of people and find out a lot about your players,” Kruger said. “If we win (today), I think we will have accomplished all of that.”

UNLV, which started 4-1 each of the past two seasons, faces its first road game Monday at Texas-El Paso.

• NOTES — North Carolina A&T is the Rebels’ second-round opponent in the eight-team Global Sports Classic. … In the first round, UNLV recorded a 73-48 victory over Pan American, which lost to California 85-58 on Thursday.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.