UNLV playing for higher Mountain West tournament seed

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — As the seconds ticked down in Sunday’s loss at San Diego State, the Aztecs’ student section turned to UNLV’s bench and began to chant, “Last place, last place, last place.”

The Rebels are usually closer to the top than the bottom of the Mountain West standings, but now they meet an Air Force opponent with whom they share the cellar.

Should the Rebels win Wednesday’s 6 p.m. basketball game, they would put themselves in position to possibly escape being the 11th seed at next month’s conference tournament, but UNLV coach Marvin Menzies was more concerned about what happens before that event tips off.

“They need to experience (winning) before the tournament, for sure,…