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Ex-Rebel Robert Smith can wear his UNLV red and disguise for maybe a few minutes that the colors are really traitorous to the UNLV cause.

Smith is a Rebel in more ways than one.

Because when the Lobos' Jamaal Smith comes off the University of New Mexico bench, blood becomes thicker than old roots and Robert Smith is 100 percent Lobo and 100 percent dad.

And his colors are Lobos red.

"I think maybe it was hard for (dad) to support me last year in Vegas," said Jamaal Smith, the Lobos senior guard. "I guess a couple of guys were yelling at him."

Smith, the dad, says it wasn't hard at all. Even though he played for UNLV (1974-75) before moving into the NBA, when blood takes to the court there are no options.

"You have to root for your son," said Smith, who lives in Las Vegas with Jamaal's mother, Gloria.

"Last year, there were some fans getting on us when we cheered for New Mexico. But I don't think they knew I used to play for UNLV. I think they just thought we were from New Mexico.

"There is no question we will be for Jamaal and the school he's with and just accept that the fans will get on us about it."

Robert Smith's roots in Vegas might be stronger than Jamaal's when it comes to UNLV loyalty. But Jamaal was raised in the Vegas area and played high school ball at Foothill High in Henderson, Nev.

Jamaal said the return to Vegas is a homecoming full of anticipation.

"I'm not just going back to (dad's) roots to play against his alma mater. I'm also going home," he said. "It means a lot to me.

"I get to be in front of a crowd that knows me, get to play in front of family and friends. That's a huge thing. This is a game I circled at the beginning of the year. There's a lot of history there for me, and I'm so excited I can hardly wait to get on the plane."

Come Saturday, Smith will be eager to get off the Steve Alford bench, too.

Smith lost his starting job at the point six games into the season to freshman Dairese Gary and has yet to win it back.

Not so much because Smith isn't playing well, but more because he is a spark of energy and quickness off the bench.

He and Gary were destined to split time, and it's a tribute to Smith's maturity that he has accepted his role as a sub.

Gary averages 22.5 minutes and 7.9 points, and Smith averages 19.2 minutes and 9.4 points. The point guard at the beginning of the game usually is the point guard most likely to close the game for Alford.

"As a dad, you always want to see him play more," Robert Smith said. "But that's a coaching decision, and I still coach (AAU ball) and I don't like to second guess. I know how parents can be.

"Jamaal is a good kid, and he's been real positive about (his role)."

Robert Smith said if things had been a little different 34 years ago, he wouldn't be having any trouble deciding if his red was UNLV or UNM.

He almost became a Lobo.

"I visited New Mexico, and I liked it," he said. "They love their basketball.

"But my mother never got to see me play in junior college, and she said if I went to Vegas, she'd get to see me play more. She came to Vegas a lot. She liked to gamble.

"I wanted her to see me play, so that helped me make my decision."