Jan. 30, 2012

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV (20-3) men's basketball team, which has reached the 20-win plateau before the month of February for the first time since 1987, on Monday moved up one spot in the Associated Press poll to No. 11 and two spots in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll to No. 13.

The No. 11 ranking is the highest for the Runnin' Rebels in either poll since sitting No. 10 in the coaches' poll on Feb. 8, 1993.

UNLV, which is tied with San Diego State for first place in the Mountain West at 4-1, won both of its games last week on the road in overtime: 77-72 at Boise State on Wednesday and 65-63 at Air Force on Saturday.

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 Jan. 14.

North Carolina (5/6), San Diego State (17/17) and Wisconsin (19/20) are all ranked this week. UNLV also has victories vs. three teams receiving votes in this week's coaches' poll: California, New Mexico and Nevada, Reno. 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.

UNLV, which is 12-0 at home for the first time since 1991-92, returns to the Thomas and Mack Center on Wednesday vs. Colorado State at 7:30 pm. Head coach Dave Rice's team will then travel to Wyoming on Saturday for a 1 p.m. PT tipoff.

UNLV IN THE 2011-12 NATIONAL RANKINGS
AP Coaches
Preseason RV RV
Nov. 14 RV RV
Nov. 21 RV RV
Nov. 28 18 20
Dec. 5 RV RV
Dec. 12 RV RV
Dec. 19 21 23
Dec. 26 19 20
Jan. 2 17 17
Jan. 9 12 12
Jan. 16 14 20
Jan. 23 12 15
Jan. 30 11 13