UNLV fans swarm senior point guard Kevin Kruger after the Rebels' 60-50 victory over 14th-ranked Air Force on Tuesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. Kruger had 14 points and 10 assists in the win. Photo by Isaac Brekken/Review-Journal. UNLV forward Corey Bailey shoots over Air Force's Nick Welch during the first half of the Rebels' 60-50 win Tuesday. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

It was everything senior point guard Kevin Kruger expected to see when he transferred to UNLV last summer. He stepped on campus and predicted a memorable season for a program that had endured 15 mostly forgettable years.

As a sea of students flooded the Thomas & Mack Center court and surrounded the Rebels on Tuesday night, Kruger was swept away by the emotion.

"That was unbelievable," he said after his 14 points and 10 assists led UNLV to a 60-50 victory over No. 14 Air Force. "That was a great feeling to be down there on the court. I was as excited as anybody."

On the first day of practice in October, Kruger said he would accept nothing less than a season that included a trip to the NCAA Tournament. In late February, that goal is well within the Rebels' reach.

UNLV improved to 23-6 and 10-4 in the Mountain West Conference with a win that thrilled a crowd of 15,692.

With two regular-season games remaining, the Rebels are in a second-place conference tie with the Falcons (23-5, 10-4), behind Brigham Young (10-2).

Air Force is the highest-ranked opponent UNLV has defeated since upsetting No. 5 Utah in 1998.

The Rebels were slight favorites against the Falcons, so it was not an upset, but the fans storming the floor treated it as a monumental moment.

"I feel awfully good for our guys and the fans," UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. "The crowd was outstanding."

So was the Rebels' defense. Air Force was held to a season-low 30.2 percent shooting while launching a school-record 39 3-point shots.

The Falcons shot 16-for-53 for the game, with 11 of their field goals scored on 3-pointers.

Senior center Joel Anthony played a big part in UNLV's physical dominance by producing 10 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.

Kevin Kruger and Wink Adams combined to shoot just 4-for-24 from the field, but they made all 12 of their free throw attempts.

The Rebels went on a decisive 21-11 run over a 12-minute stretch midway through the second half.

Anthony, off a feed from Kevin Kruger, dunked to put UNLV ahead 56-47, and Kruger made two free throws to push the lead to 11 with 4:29 remaining.

"It was definitely a defensive slugfest," said Kevin Kruger, who shot 2-for-11 from the field and 9-for-9 at the free-throw line. He recorded his first career double-double and committed only one turnover.

The Rebels had trouble defending the perimeter in the first half as the Falcons shot 7-for-17 from 3-point range. Dan Nwaelele, Nick Welch and Andrew Henke made two apiece.

Welch finished with 15 points and Nwaelele 14 to lead the Falcons.

UNLV held a 31-30 halftime edge as Anthony came off the bench to make all four of his field goals and score eight points.

"We have surprised a lot of people this season," Anthony said. "We knew what we had as a team. This is a great team. Obviously, other people were not as sure. Without that type of support and energy the fans are giving us, we probably wouldn't be as successful."

The Rebels, 15-1 at home, avenged a 56-50 loss at Air Force on Jan. 6.

"When you walk around campus, you see there is more pride in UNLV basketball, and that's one of the reasons I came here," said Kevin Kruger, who transferred from Arizona State to help his father, Lon Kruger, revive the Rebels.

"It's a great feeling to be a part of it."

UNLV has won 23 games for just the second time since Jerry Tarkanian left as coach after the 1991-92 season.

Lon Kruger said some time off will benefit the Rebels, who next play at New Mexico on Feb. 28.