KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Montana Tech's men's basketball team earned its highest-ever ranking in the NAIA coaches' top 25 poll.
The Orediggers moved up to No. 4 in the national rankings, the NAIA office announced Wednesday.
Montana Tech sports an 8-0 record in the early going this season, including a pair of road victories to open Frontier Conference play last week. Tech topped Mayville State, 75-63, Friday evening before finishing a perfect swing through North Dakota Saturday with a 73-61 win at Valley City State.
The No. 4 ranking bested Montana Tech's previous best-ever ranking; the Orediggers were ranked fifth in the November 27 poll a year ago.
Tech leads the way in terms of Frontier Conference representation in the ballot, followed by Montana Western at No. 23. Rocky Mountain and Bellevue received votes. Grace (Ind.) moved up to the No. 1 spot in the poll.
Montana Tech also moved up in the Massey Ratings, checking in at No. 2 in that system.
The Orediggers return home to Valley Bank Arena Friday to take on Montana Western in a rivalry game sponsored by Metals Sports Bar & Grill. The women's game tips off at 5 p.m. followed by the men at 7.
2025-26 NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches Top 25 - Poll No. 2
| RANK |
LAST TIME |
INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] |
RECORD |
POINTS |
| 1 |
4 |
Grace (Ind.) [8] |
8-0 |
498 |
| 2 |
2 |
Arizona Christian [9] |
9-1 |
493 |
| 3 |
5 |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) [1] |
9-1 |
466 |
| 4 |
6 |
Montana Tech |
8-0 |
446 |
| 5 |
7 |
Langston (Okla.) |
6-1 |
439 |
| 6 |
1 |
Indiana Wesleyan |
7-1 |
410 |
| 7 |
9 |
Life (Ga.) |
7-1 |
401 |
| 8 |
8 |
Ave Maria (Fla.) |
9-0 |
396 |
| 9 |
12 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
9-0 |
369 |
| 10 |
13 |
Oklahoma Wesleyan |
6-1 |
363 |
| 11 |
15 |
Bethel (Ind.) |
8-0 |
320 |
| 12 |
16 |
College of Idaho |
5-2 |
300 |
| 13 |
17 |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
8-2 |
296 |
| 14 |
21 |
Indiana Tech |
7-1 |
251 |
| 15 |
25 |
Keiser (Fla.) |
6-1 |
240 |
| 16 |
3 |
Northwestern (Iowa) |
7-2 |
232 |
| 17 |
RV |
Bethel (Kan.) |
7-1 |
203 |
| 18 |
20 |
Nelson (Texas) |
6-2 |
164 |
| 19 |
23 |
Hope International (Calif.) |
7-1 |
161 |
| 20 |
10 |
Dalton State (Ga.) |
6-3 |
155 |
| 21 |
18 |
Friends (Kan.) |
5-2 |
142 |
| 22 |
19 |
Oregon Tech |
5-3 |
139 |
| 23 |
24 |
Montana Western |
7-1 |
122 |
| 24 |
NR |
Concordia (Neb.) |
6-2 |
85 |
| 25 |
RV |
Georgia Gwinnett |
8-2 |
74 |
| Dropped from Top 25: Columbia (Mo.), Saint Mary (Kan.), LSU Alexandria (La.) |
| Receiving Votes: Wayland Baptist (Texas) 71; Mobile (Ala.) 51; Columbia (Mo.) 48; Missouri Baptist 40; Saint Mary (Kan.) 36; Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 28; Huntington (Ind.) 27; LSU Alexandria (La.) 25; Pikeville (Ky.) 21; Graceland (Iowa) 13; Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 11; Texas Wesleyan 9; Bellevue (Neb.) 8; Southeastern (Fla.) 8; Rochester Christian (Mich.) 6 |
Visit Montana Tech athletics' home online, GoDiggers.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news and coverage of the Orediggers. Give Montana Tech athletics a like on Facebook, and follow the Orediggers on X and Instagram at @DiggerAthletics.
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