UNLV basketball cracks AP poll at No. 24

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Monday, Nov. 29, 2010 | 10:32 a.m.

The UNLV basketball team is ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press poll released Monday.

UNLV has opened the season with six straight wins, including Sunday's 71-59 victory against Virginia Tech in the championship game 76 Classic in Anaheim, Calif.

The Rebels won all three of their games at the tournament, also beating the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the Murray State Racers.

UNLV also checked in at No. 23 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll, marking its first appearance this year in both. It received 66 votes last week on AP ballots, landing five spots out of the top 25.

Earlier Monday, UNLV junior forward Chace Stanback was named the Mountain West Conference's Co-Player of the Week, sharing the honor with BYU senior guard Jimmer Fredette.

The 6-foot-8 Stanback was the 76 Classic's Most Outstanding Player, leading the Rebels in scoring all three games. Against Virginia Tech, he had 17 points and eight rebounds. In the first two games of the tournament, he missed only two shots in 15 attempts.

Stanback's stellar season — he's led the Rebels in scoring in five of six games — includes posting a career-high 25 points Nov. 20 in the Rebels' 68-65 victory against Wisconsin.

Fredette was the tournament Most Valuable Player in leading No. 21 BYU to the South Padre Island (Texas) Invitational title last week. He averaged 24 points, 4.7 assists and three steals, highlighted by a 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining in a 72-70 win over St. Mary's.

UNLV returns to action Wednesday at Illinois State.