KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Montana Tech's men's basketball team returned to the top 10 in the NAIA coaches' top 25 poll, holding the No. 9 ranking in the land, the NAIA's national office announced Wednesday.
The Orediggers posted an unblemished records since the most recent poll two weeks prior, going 4-0 against Frontier Conference opponents Montana Western, Providence, MSU-Northern, and then-No. 19 Rocky Mountain. That was enough to jump two spots from No. 11 to No. 9.
Tech is again the only Frontier team in the poll. Rocky Mountain dropped out after losing three of four over the stretch. The Battlin' Bears continue to receive votes.
Freed-Hardeman took over the No. 1 spot in the rankings, collecting 16 of 19 first-place votes. No. 2 LSU Alexandria snagged the other three.
Montana Tech (18-2, 6-1 Frontier) hits the road Thursday to continue conference play at Carroll. Tip is at 7 p.m. in Helena.
2024-25 NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll - No. 5 (January 29)
| RANK |
INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] |
RECORD |
FINAL POINTS |
| 1 |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) [16] |
19-2 |
508 |
| 2 |
LSU Alexandria (La.) [3] |
18-1 |
485 |
| 3 |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
19-1 |
483 |
| 4 |
College of Idaho |
18-2 |
457 |
| 5 |
The Master's (Calif.) |
18-3 |
426 |
| 6 |
Baker (Kan.) |
19-1 |
410 |
| 7 |
Bethel (Ind.) |
17-3 |
407 |
| 8 |
Dordt (Iowa) |
20-1 |
392 |
| 9 |
Montana Tech |
18-2 |
374 |
| 10 |
Arizona Christian |
17-4 |
363 |
| 11 |
Dalton State (Ga.) |
17-2 |
350 |
| 12 |
Grace (Ind.) |
16-4 |
313 |
| 13 |
Concordia (Neb.) |
17-4 |
276 |
| 14 |
William Woods (Mo.) |
17-2 |
266 |
| 15 |
Florida Memorial |
16-4 |
264 |
| 16 |
Northwestern (Iowa) |
18-3 |
232 |
| 17 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
15-5 |
194 |
| 18 |
Langston (Okla.) |
15-5 |
193 |
| 19 |
Huntington (Ind.) |
15-5 |
192 |
| 20 |
Central Baptist (Ark.) |
16-4 |
187 |
| 21 |
Pikeville (Ky.) |
18-4 |
160 |
| 22 |
Hope International (Calif.) |
18-3 |
156 |
| 23 |
Ave Maria (Fla.) |
16-5 |
146 |
| 24 |
Oregon Tech |
15-4 |
140 |
| 25 |
St. Francis (Ill.) |
17-2 |
100 |
Dropped from Top 25: Keiser (Fla.), Rocky Mountain (Mont.), Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), Rio Grande (Ohio)
Receiving Votes: Life (Ga.) 69, Keiser (Fla.) 62, Saint Francis (Ind.) 47, Oklahoma Wesleyan 31, Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 31, Nelson (Texas) 27, Indiana Tech 23, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 19, Mobile (Ala.) 17, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 14, Graceland (Iowa) 10, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (Ind.) 9, Indiana Wesleyan 5, Morningside (Iowa) 4, Columbia International (S.C.) 4
Rating Methodology:
- The NAIA Men's Basketball Poll is for publicity purposes only and has no weight or bearing in the selection process for national championship field consideration
- The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and Continental Athletic Conference (Independents)
- The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second place and so on through the list
- The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low ratings) is removed
- Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered "receiving votes"
- Frequency of polls occur bi-weekly
- Records listed are as of the end of the day on Monday of the poll week
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