Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
UNLV guard Oscar Bellfield smiles while talking to Brice Massamba during a time out in their game against Air Force Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. UNLV won the game 68-58.
Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 | 11:05 a.m.
Rebels move up in rankings
KSNV coverage of the UNLV in a three-way tie for top ranking in the Mountain West Conference, Feb. 27, 2012.
Sun coverage
The UNLV basketball team is ranked No. 17 Monday in both polls.
The Rebels, which last week posted a pair of double digit home victories, jumped four spots in the Associated Press rankings and three spots in the coaches’ poll. Last Monday, the Rebels dropped 10 spots from No. 11 in the AP after losing consecutive road games, including being blown out at New Mexico.
They got healthy last week, easily beating Boise State and Air Force in improving to 24-6 overall and 8-4 in the Mountain West Conference.
The Rebels are tied with San Diego State and New Mexico for first place in the league heading into the final week of the regular season. San Diego State is ranked No. 21 in the AP and No. 23 by the coaches, and New Mexico — which lost Saturday by double digits to TCU — dropped from No. 18 in the AP to receiving votes but out of the top 25.
UNLV, which has lost six road games, will have its hands full Wednesday at Colorado State (17-10 overall, 6-6 league). The Rams, which have already beat San Diego State and New Mexico at home, are on the NCAA Tournament bubble for an at-large bid and desperate for a marquee victory against a ranked team.
UNLV closes the regular season Saturday by hosting Wyoming at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Mountain West tournament is the following week at the Mack.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.
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