# 1985–86 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team

The 1985–86 UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team represented the University of Nevada Las Vegas in NCAA Division I men's competition in the 1985–86 season under head coach Jerry Tarkanian. The team played its home games in the Thomas & Mack Center, and was a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA), now known as the Big West Conference. The Rebels won the regular season conference and PCAA tournament titles. The team finished with a record of 33–5 (16–2 PCAA) and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| Nov 22, 1985* | No. 18 | Nevada | W 89–62 | 1–0 | Thomas & Mack Center Paradise, Nevada |
| Nov 25, 1985* | | South Carolina | W 73–55 | 2–0 | Thomas & Mack Center Paradise, Nevada |
| Nov 29, 1985* | No. 16 | vs. Villanova Great Alaska Shootout | W 61–49 | 3–0 | Sullivan Arena Anchorage, Alaska |
| Nov 30, 1985* | No. 16 | vs. Arizona Great Alaska Shootout | W 60–59 | 4–0 | Sullivan Arena Anchorage, Alaska |
| Dec 1, 1985* | No. 16 | vs. No. 1 North Carolina Great Alaska Shootout | L 60–65 | 4–1 | Sullivan Arena Anchorage, Alaska |
| Dec 7, 1985* | No. 14 | at Maryland | W 64–63 $^{OT}$ | 5–1 | Cole Fieldhouse College Park, Maryland |
| Dec 14, 1985* | | at Nevada | W 74–52 | 6–1 | Lawlor Events Center Reno, Nevada |
| Dec 20, 1985* | | San Diego State | W 105–85 | 7–1 | Thomas & Mack Center Paradise, Nevada |
| Dec 21, 1985* | | Iona | W 82–63 | 8–1 | Thomas & Mack Center Paradise, Nevada |
| Dec 24, 1985* | | vs. Stanford Miller Lite Rebel Roundup | W 83–65 | 9–1 | Thomas & Mack Center Paradise, Nevada |
| Dec 25, 1985* | | vs. NC State Miller Lite Rebel Roundup | L 73–80 | 9–2 | Thomas & Mack Center Paradise, Nevada |
| Dec 27, 1985* | No. 12 | Ball State Budweiser Holiday Classic | W 88–71 | 10–2 | Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Dec 28, 1985* | No. 12 | No. 14 UAB Budweiser Holiday Classic | W 73–72 | 11–2 | Thomas & Mack Center (17,980) Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Feb 7, 1986* | No. 9 | No. 3 Memphis State | W 67–66 | 23–2 | Thomas & Mack Center Paradise, Nevada |
| Mar 1, 1986* | No. 9 | at Long Beach State | W 94–76 | 28–4 | The Gold Mine Long Beach, California |
| PCAA tournament ||||||
| Mar 6, 1986* | No. 13 | vs. Fresno State Quarterfinals | W 68–49 | 29–4 | The Forum Inglewood, California |
| Mar 7, 1986* | No. 13 | vs. Cal State Fullerton Semifinals | W 75–65 | 30–4 | The Forum Inglewood, California |
| Mar 8, 1986* | No. 13 | vs. New Mexico State Championship game | W 75–55 | 31–4 | The Forum Inglewood, California |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| Mar 14, 1986* | (4 W) No. 11 | vs. (13 W) Northeast Louisiana First round | W 74–51 | 32–4 | Long Beach Arena Long Beach, California |
| Mar 16, 1986* | (4 W) No. 11 | vs. (5 W) Maryland Second round | W 70–64 | 33–4 | Long Beach Arena Long Beach, California |
| Mar 20, 1986* | (4 W) No. 11 | vs. (8 W) Auburn West Regional semifinal – Sweet Sixteen | L 63–70 | 33–5 | The Summit Houston, Texas |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. W=West. ||||||
    Source:

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | 18 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 11 |
| Coaches | 18 | 18^ | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 10 |

## Awards and honors

* Anthony Jones – co–PCAA Player of the Year