PIKEVILLE, Ky. — After dropping to No. 2 in the second rankings of the season, the University of Pikeville men’s basketball team has quickly played itself back into the top ranking in the NAIA Coaches’ Top-25 Poll, national office officials announced on Tuesday.
UPIKE’s top billing comes on the heels of pushing its record to 16-1 overall and 3-1 in the Mid-South Conference with a 17-point win at Ave Maria (Fla.) on Monday, 98-63 rout of then-No. 15 Lindsey Wilson on Thursday and holding off Cumberland (Tenn.) 86-78 on Saturday.
The Bears picked up 217 voting points in the poll and claimed six of the nine available first-place votes. This is the fifth time in program history that the Bears have been ranked No. 1.
Flip flopping just like in the last rankings, fellow MSC member Georgetown is ranked tied for second with 209 points and one first-place nod. Columbia (Mo.) is the other team at No. 2 with two first-place votes.
Three teams from the MSC are ranked, including UPIKE, Georgetown and No. 21 Campbellsville.
UPIKE has been mentioned an NAIA second-best 42 straight times in its top-25 polls, trailing only No. 14 Xavier (La.) with 54 straight mentions.
The No. 1 Bears return to action at 8 p.m. ET this Thursday at St. Catharine followed by a trip to No. 21 Campbellsville at 4 p.m. on Saturday. East Ky. Broadcasting’s Z1075 FM will be on hand with calls of both games.
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