March 5, 2007

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV men's basketball team rode a four-game winning streak and second-place regular-season Mountain West Conference finish into the national rankings on Monday.

Boasting their best record since Jerry Tarkanian's final squad went 26-2 in 1991-92, the 25-6/12-4 Runnin' Rebels came in at No. 25 in both major polls this week, including making their first appearance in the Associated Press media rankings since they stood 25th on March 15, 1993.

It marked the second time UNLV has been ranked this season as it was tied for 25th in the USA TODAY/ESPN coaches' poll for one week at the end of January.

Head coach Lon Kruger's squad earned the number two seed at this week's Mountain West tournament and will begin play by taking on seventh-seeded Utah on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV, which has won 11 of its last 13 games, finished the regular season with a 16-1 home record.

ASSOCIATED PRESS MEDIA POLL
PL SCHOOL (1st Place Votes) RECORD  POINTS1.  Ohio State (70)         27-3    1,7982.  Kansas (2)              27-4    1,7063.  Wisconsin               27-4    1,5994.  UCLA                    26-4    1,5835.  Memphis                 27-3    1,4816.  Florida                 26-5    1,4337.  Texas A&M               25-5    1,3838.  North Carolina          25-6    1,3319.  Georgetown              23-6    1,20510. Nevada                  27-3    1,01311. Washington State        24-6    98612. Louisville              22-8    89213. Pittsburgh              25-6    88214. Southern Illinois       27-6    87815. Texas                   22-8    86816. Oregon                  23-7    66217. Maryland                24-7    63918. Marquette               23-8    53619. Butler                  27-5    51720. Notre Dame              23-6    44221. Duke                    22-9    28422. Tennessee               22-9    24323. Brigham Young           23-7    18624. Winthrop                28-4    16225. UNLV                    25-6    125
USA TODAY/ESPN COACHES' POLL1.  Ohio State (30)         27-3    7742.  Kansas (1)              27-4    7313.  UCLA                    26-4    6784.  Wisconsin               27-4    6755.  Memphis                 27-3    6416.  Florida                 26-5    6297.  Texas A&M               25-5    5948.  North Carolina          25-6    5579.  Georgetown              23-6    50210. Nevada                  27-3    43811. Pittsburgh              25-6    41812. Washington State        24-6    41313. Southern Illinois       27-6    35514. Texas                   22-8    34715. Louisville              22-8    31316. Notre Dame              23-6    30317. Butler                  27-5    28318. Oregon                  23-7    25419. Marquette               23-8    19220. Maryland                24-7    19121. Duke                    22-9    11822. Winthrop                28-4    11423. Brigham Young           23-7    8324. Virginia                20-9    8125. UNLV                    25-6    58