Homecoming for Inglima

RENO " It was a homecoming of sorts for former Carson High basketball star Vince Inglima.

Inglima, who had a successful playing career at Cabrillo College and Sonoma State, is now in his second season as an assistant coach for the Sonoma State Seawolves, who dropped a 95-39 decision to Nevada Tuesday night at Lawlor Events Center.

"It's really hard when you feel like you can still get it done as a player," Inglima said after the loss.

As frustrated as he was, it didn't stop Inglima from constantly peppering his players with instructions and positive feedback.

Inglima just finished his second season of professional basketball in Australia. He averaged 22 points and six rebounds for the division-winning Dandenong Rangers. He suffered a foot injury in the second round of the post-season playoffs and his team was eliminated.

"We're supposed to move up to a tougher division next year," said Inglima, who will leave sometime in February to return to Australia. "I'm really looking forward to it."

Inglima said he's enjoying learning a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that goes with coaching.

"So much time is put in by the coaches," he said. "All the travel and scouting reports are prepared for you. Coaches are watching film before practice and after practice; before games and after games."

And, Inglima also does some radio work for the Seawolves.

FIELDS PLAYS WELL

Brandon Fields, who entered the game shooting just 30.8 from the field, scored a season-best nine points on 4-for-8 shooting.

Fields should have reached double figures, but he missed a slam dunk in the second half.

"It will take some time to get back in the groove," Fields said. "I have a very high confidence level. I'm going to keep on shooting. Eventually they will go in."

EXTENDED TIME FOR GILES

Freshman London Giles played a season-best 22 minutes in just his third game since coming off the suspended list.

The freshman point guard scored three polnts, all from the line, and dished out three assists.

"He's comfortable now with what we are running," Nevada coach Mark Fox said. "It was good for him to get extended minutes. I thought he did a nice job."

ETC...

All 12 players scored for Nevada, led by freshman Luke Babbitt who had 16 on 6-of-10 shooting, including both of his three-point attempts. Babbitt has scored in double figures in six of Nevada's seven games ...The team won for the 14th time in its last 18 home games and is now 75-11 at Lawlor Events Center since the start of the 2003-04 season... Sonoma State had 20 offensive rebounds, but only had 13 second-chance points ... Adam Carp scored his first points of the season when he made two second-half foul shots.

UP NEXT

Nevada continues its four-game homestand on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. with Southern Illinois in a rematch of last year's BracketBusters game.

Southern Illinois pounded Nevada 74-49 last year. Southern Illinois is currently 3-4.