Jan. 2, 2012

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - For the fourth time this season and third week in a row, the UNLV men's basketball team is ranked in the top 25 polls, which were released Monday. The Runnin' Rebels (15-2) are off to their best start to a season since 1992-93 and jumped two spots in the Associated Press rankings and three in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll to No. 17 in both.

UNLV went 2-0 last week with a home win over Central Arkansas (124-75) on Wednesday and a road win at Hawaii on New Year's Eve (74-69). The Runnin' Rebels have won six straight games, seven of their last eight, and are 2-1 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 and defeated then-No. 19 Illinois on Dec. 17 in Chicago.

North Carolina (3/4) and Wisconsin (18/19) are ranked this week, while Illinois is receiving a vote in the coaches' poll. UNLV's only loss to an unranked team this season was Dec. 4 at Wichita State.

UNLV is tied for first in the country in wins with top-ranked Syracuse (15-0).

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 last week and were ranked in the top 25 for a total of four weeks last season.

UNLV will conclude its non-conference schedule with a road game this week at Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday, Jan. 5.