Dec. 19, 2011

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - For the second time this season, the UNLV men's basketball team is ranked in the top 25 polls, which were released Monday. The Runnin' Rebels (11-2) are No. 21 in the Associated Press rankings and No. 23 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.

UNLV went 2-0 last week with a home win over UTEP (65-54) on Wednesday and then beat then-No. 19 Illinois (64-48) on Saturday in Chicago. The Runnin' Rebels are 2-1 this year against ranked opponents as they defeated then-No. 1 North Carolina on Nov. 26 and lost at then-No. 14/16 Wisconsin on Dec. 10.

Illinois (25/24), North Carolina (5/6) and Wisconsin (13/14) are all ranked this week. UNLV's only loss to an unranked team this season was Dec. 4 at Wichita State. The Shockers are receiving votes (AP) this week.

After entering the polls on Nov. 28 at No. 18 (AP) and No. 20 (ESPN/USA Today), UNLV was receiving votes the last two weeks. The Runnin' Rebels were ranked in the top 25 for a total of four weeks last season.

UNLV hosts Louisiana-Monroe at the Thomas & Mack Center tonight (Monday) at 7 p.m., and will play California, also at home, Friday at 2 p.m. Friday's game will be televised by CBS Sports Network. The Bears are receiving votes in both polls and spent the first four weeks of the season ranked.