Dec. 26, 2011

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - For the third time this season and second week in a row, the UNLV men's basketball team is ranked in the top 25 polls, which were released Monday. The Runnin' Rebels (13-2) climbed two spots in the Associated Press rankings to No.19 and moved up three spots to No. 20 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.

UNLV went 2-0 last week with home wins over Louisiana-Monroe (81-63) on Monday and California (85-68) on Friday. The Runnin' Rebels are 2-1 this year against ranked opponents as they defeated then-No. 1 North Carolina on Nov. 26, lost at then-No. 14/16 Wisconsin on Dec. 10 and defeated then-No. 19 Illinois on Dec. 17 in Chicago.

North Carolina (5/6) and Wisconsin (11/11) are ranked this week, while Illinois is receiving votes, two spots out of the top 25 in both polls. UNLV's only loss to an unranked team this season was Dec. 4 at Wichita State. The Shockers are receiving votes in both polls this week.

After entering the rankings on Nov. 28 at No. 18 (AP) and No. 20 (ESPN/USA Today), UNLV was receiving votes for two straight weeks before reentering the top 25 on Dec. 19 at No. 21/23. The Runnin' Rebels were ranked in the top 25 for a total of four weeks last season.

UNLV hosts Central Arkansas at the Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. for its final home non-conference game of the season, and will play at Hawaii on Saturday, Dec. 31.