Three Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) programs were ranked among the Top 25 nationally in the first regular-season 2014 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday.
Defending SSAC regular-season and tournament champion William Carey (Miss.) headlines the SSAC's ranked programs, moving up to No. 5 in the poll with 206 total points. The Crusaders are 7-1 on the season, with their lone loss coming to NCAA Division II Spring Hill (Ala.), 60-55, on Dec. 6.
On the heels of a 9-0 start, Martin Methodist (Tenn.) vaults from the receiving votes category to the No. 8 position with 195 total points. The Redhawks are the lone SSAC team to boast a 3-0 record in conference play and are one of three remaining unbeaten teams in NAIA Division I.
First-year SSAC member Dalton State (Ga.) climbs to No. 13 in the poll, sharing the position with Rocky Mountain (Mont.) with 145 total points. The Roadrunners are 8-1 on the season, with their lone loss coming in triple overtime to conference foe William Carey, 101-95, on Nov. 28.
"We are excited and feel very fortunate to be ranked 13th in the nation," said Dalton State Coach Tony Ingle. "Having two teams in our conference ranked higher shows the strength of the SSAC." The Roadrunners had been ranked 15th in the NAIA Division I Pre-Season Poll.
Cal State San Marcos claimed its first No. 1 ranking of the 2014-15 season, while No. 2 Campbellsville (Ky.), No. 3 Hope International (Calif.) and No. 4 Pikeville (Ky.) rounded out the top five alongside William Carey.
Bethel (Tenn.) also received votes in the poll, but did not crack the Top 25.
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the Association of Independent Institutions. For the entire 2014-15 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll schedule, click here. The second regular-season edition will be announced on Jan. 6.