KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Montana Tech's men's basketball team vaulted into the Gared NAIA men's basketball coaches' top 25 poll at No. 14, the association announced Wednesday morning.
The Orediggers, who received votes in the preseason top 25, began the year 4-0 with wins over then-No. 16 The College of Idaho and (RV) Lewis-Clark State to jump into the top 25. It's the highest Montana Tech has appeared in the coaches' poll since the Orediggers were No. 4 last November.
Oklahoma Wesleyan jumped 10 spots to No. 1 in the rankings, receiving 14 first-place votes. No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan garnered five top selections, and No. 6 Arizona Christian earned the last.
Montana Tech was one of three Frontier Conference programs to gain recognition in the first regular-season poll. Defending league champion Rocky Mountain held at No. 4, and Bellevue received votes.
The Orediggers will put their unblemished record on the line Friday night at home against Stanton. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Valley Bank Arena.
Gared NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll (Nov. 11)
| TREND |
RANK |
LAST TIME |
INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] |
RECORD |
| ▲ |
1 |
11 |
Oklahoma Wesleyan [14] |
6-0 |
| ▲ |
2 |
5 |
Indiana Wesleyan [5] |
4-0 |
| ▼ |
3 |
1 |
Grace (Ind.) |
4-1 |
| ● |
4 |
4 |
Rocky Mountain (Mont.) |
0-0 |
| ▲ |
5 |
7 |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
4-1 |
| ▼ |
6 |
3 |
Arizona Christian [1] |
5-1 |
| ▼ |
7 |
6 |
Nelson (Texas) |
3-0 |
| ▲ |
8 |
10 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
5-0 |
| ▲ |
9 |
25 |
Morningside (Iowa) |
4-0 |
| ▲ |
10 |
13 |
Ave Maria (Fla.) |
4-0 |
| ▼ |
11 |
2 |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) |
3-1 |
| ▲ |
12 |
18 |
Georgia Gwinnett |
6-0 |
| ▲ |
13 |
15 |
Eastern Oregon |
3-0 |
| ▲ |
14 |
RV |
Montana Tech |
4-0 |
| ▼ |
15 |
9 |
LSU Shreveport (La.) |
3-2 |
| ▼ |
16 |
14 |
Loyola (La.) |
4-1 |
| ▼ |
17 |
16 |
College of Idaho |
3-1 |
| ▲ |
18 |
NR |
St. Thomas (Fla.) |
3-1 |
| ▲ |
19 |
24 |
Wayland Baptist (Texas) |
2-1 |
| ▲ |
20 |
21 |
Pikeville (Ky.) |
2-1 |
| ▼ |
21 |
8 |
Langston (Okla.) |
2-2 |
| ▼ |
22 |
11 |
Keiser (Fla.) |
1-1 |
| ▲ |
23 |
RV |
Life (Ga.) |
4-0 |
| ▲ |
24 |
NR |
Bethel (Kan.) |
3-0 |
| ▲ |
25 |
RV |
Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) |
4-1 |
| Dropped from Top 25: Concordia (Neb.), Madonna (Mich.), Williams Baptist (Ark.), The Master's (Calif.), Hope International, William Carey (Miss.) |
| Receiving Votes: Bellevue (Neb.), Columbia (Mo.), Concordia (Neb.), Dalton State (Ga.), Dordt (Iowa), Grand View (Iowa), Huntington (Ind.), Indiana Tech, IU Kokomo (Ind.), LSU Alexandria (La.), Madonna (Mich.), Oregon Tech, Talladega (Ala.), Taylor (Ind.), Texas A&M -Texarkana, The Master's (Calif.), Williams Baptist (Ark.) |
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