Jan. 9, 2012

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV (16-2), which is off to its best start to a season since 1992-93, jumped five spots on Monday in both the Associated Press rankings and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll to No. 12 in both, which is the Runnin' Rebels' highest ranking since Feb. 8, 1993, when they were also 12th.

UNLV won its lone game last week, 89-57 at CSU Bakersfield, for its seventh consecutive victory and eighth in its last nine games, wrapping up its non-conference schedule. The program's total of 16 wins is tied with No. 15/14 Murray State (16-0) for the second-most victories this season, trailing only top-ranked Syracuse (17-0).

The Runnin' Rebels 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 is ranked third in both polls this week, while Wisconsin and Illinois are both 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 the coaches' poll.

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 and No. 17/17 last week.

The last time UNLV spent a total of five weeks ranked during a season was in 2009-10.

UNLV will open Mountain West play on Saturday, Jan. 14 at No. 22/22 San Diego State. The 1 p.m. PST game will be televised on NBC Sports Network.