PROVO -- The Mountain West Conference continues its push for recognition as BYU, New Mexico and UNLV are ranked in this week's AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Polls.

In the AP poll, New Mexico is ranked No. 15, BYU follows at No. 17 and UNLV comes in at No. 23. In the coaches' poll, it's No. 17 BYU, No. 19 New Mexico and No. 25 UNLV.

The Lobos are on a roll, winning seven straight, including an 88-86 overtime victory over San Diego State on Saturday.

The Cougars are off to one of their best starts in school history (22-3) while UNLV has won seven out of their last eight games.

The three teams are tied for first place in the conference standings after UNLV routed then No. 12 BYU 88-74 on Saturday.

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Kansas still No. 1

by JIM O'CONNELL, AP Basketball Writer

Kansas is again the runaway No. 1 in The Associated Press' college basketball poll and there is a different No. 2 for the fourth straight week.

Syracuse moves into the second spot Monday, its highest ranking since a six-week stretch at No. 1 in 1989-90.

Kansas, which received 55 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel, is No. 1 for the 11th time this season out of 14 polls. Syracuse moved up one place and had eight first-place votes.

Kentucky, which was No. 1 on two ballots, was third, while Villanova and West Virginia, which meet Monday night, are fourth and fifth.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)