Loyola, UNLV Will Be Off and Running in NIT

When the two highest-scoring basketball programs in NCAA history meet here tonight in an opening-round game of the preseason National Invitation Tournament, defense will probably decide things.

It’s no secret that Loyola Marymount and Nevada Las Vegas--who play at 9 tonight in UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center--love to run and gun. Loyola Marymount has averaged more than 110 points a game for the last two years, setting the NCAA record of 112.5 last season. That broke the old record of 110.5 set by--who else?--the Rebels in 1975-76.

However, entering his 17th season in Las Vegas, UNLV Coach Jerry Tarkanian is trumpeting this as his best defensive team. Featuring dogged defender Stacey Augmon, the Rebels used their press last week to spark their running game and defeated the Soviet national team, 107-102.

Despite the absence of both centers--George Ackles broke his wrist and is out for the season, and David Butler is academically ineligible until mid-December--UNLV’s talent is impressive enough for the Rebels to be ranked No. 1 in most preseason polls.

Powerful 6-foot-7 junior college superstar Larry Johnson is drawing comparisons to George McGinnis and teams with Augmon at forward. The backcourt features point guard Greg Anthony--who as a freshman at Portland averaged 24 points in two games against Loyola--and three-point bomber Anderson Hunt, who scored 36 points against the Soviets.

If 6-8 fill-in center James Jones falters, Johnson moves to the pivot.

The Rebels won the preseason NIT the last time they were invited, in 1986. In six seasons in the Thomas and Mack, UNLV is 86-6.

Loyola Coach Paul Westhead says his team may not be in top form yet. To win, Loyola will need effective three-point shooting by Jeff Fryer and Bo Kimble, and probably Per Stumer, to open things up inside for Hank Gathers.

The Lions say they are not in awe. Loyola joins UNLV as two of the four West Coast teams to have appeared in the NCAA tournament the last two seasons, along with Arizona and Oregon State.

“We’re an experienced team,” Westhead said. “The five starters are all back from our last game in the Hoosier Dome (against Arkansas in an NCAA regional). “We will not (be intimidated) by the glitter.”