LAS VEGAS (AP) - Junior guard Tre'Von Willis had a career-high 33 points to lead UNLV to an 88-74 victory over No. 12 BYU on Saturday that pulled the Runnin' Rebel into a first-place tie with the Cougars in the Mountain West Conference.

With the win, UNLV (19-4, 7-2) pulled to a tie with BYU (22-3, 7-2) for first place in the Mountain West Conference.

Willis, who finished with eight assists and five rebounds for the Rebels (19-4, 7-2), scored 21 in the first half as UNLV jumped to leads of 15-2 and 47-18 in front of a sellout crowd of 18,557 at the Thomas & Mack Arena.

Willis, whose previous high was 30 points at TCU on Jan. 23, was 11 of 20 from the field, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range.

Jimmer Fredette led the Cougars (22-3, 7-2) with 21 points going 11 of 13 from the free-throw line, just but 2 of 7 from 3-point range. Fredette had seven rebounds and six assists.

Matt Shaw had 13 points and five rebounds for UNLV, which has won seven of its last eight games, while Oscar Bellfield had 12 points.

Jonathan Taverni added 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field for BYU, while Jackson Emery had 10 points.

BYU had won 17 of its last 19, but lost its seventh straight at UNLV, including conference tournament championship games in 2007 and 08.

The Rebels led 56-34 at halftime and the Cougars cut it to 61-48 with 15:31 left, but got no closer.