Jan. 16, 2012

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV (16-3), which lost at San Diego State on Saturday on a last-second off-balance layup, fell just two spots in the Associated Press rankings to No. 14, and eight to No. 20 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, which were both released Monday.

This week marks the Runnin' Rebels' sixth of the season in the top 25, which is the highest total number of weeks being ranked for the program in one season since 1992-93, when they were ranked every week.

The 69-67 loss at Viejas Arena in San Diego was UNLV's only game last week. With the win in the Mountain West opener for both teams, the Aztecs improved to 40-3 at home since the beginning of the 2009-10 season. They moved up six spots in both polls to No. 16/16 this week.

The Runnin' Rebels are 2-2 this year against ranked opponents. UNLV defeated then-No. 1 North Carolina on Nov. 26, lost at then-No. 14/16 Wisconsin on Dec. 10, defeated then-No. 19 Illinois on Dec. 17 in Chicago, and lost at then-No. 22 San Diego State on Saturday. North Carolina is ranked eighth in both polls this week, San Diego State is No. 16 in both, Illinois is No. 22/25, while Wisconsin is receiving votes in both polls. UNLV's only loss to an unranked team this season was Dec. 4 at Wichita State. The Shockers are also 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 No. 19/20 on Dec. 26, No. 17/17 on Jan. 2, and No. 12/12 last week.

UNLV will host TCU at the Thomas & Mack Center for its Mountain West home opener on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. PST, televised on The Mtn., then will host New Mexico on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. PST, televised on CBS Sports Network. New Mexico is receiving votes in both polls.