FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-12-01

AASU Men's Basketball Cracks NABC/DII Bulletin Top 25 Poll

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team, currently 20-5 overall and riding a school-record 13-game winning streak, is ranked No. 24 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC)/DII Bulletin Top 25 Poll released on Monday.

For the Pirates, who are also a perfect 12-0 in the Peach Belt Conference, the poll appearance marks the first national ranking for the men's basketball program since the 1983-84 season when AASU appeared in the NAIA National Top 25 poll. The ranking is the first in NCAA Division II since the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons, when head coach George Bianchi led the “Runnin' Pirates” to No. 1 national rankings during both seasons.

Adelphi, the only unbeaten team remaining in NCAA Division II at 22-0, held the top spot in the poll for the third consecutive week. The Pirates' 13-game winning streak is the third-longest current winning streak in NCAA Division II, behind Adelphi and No. 22-ranked Nebraska-Kearney (14 straight). Southern Indiana (20-1) and Wingate (20-1) remain at No. 2 and No. 3 in the poll, followed by South Dakota (20-3) and Kentucky Wesleyan (18-3). AASU and UMass-Lowell were the only two new entries into the poll this week.

AASU is next in action on Wednesday, Feb. 14 as it hosts Clayton College & State at 7:30 p.m. in a Peach Belt Conference matchup. With a win, AASU can clinch a tie for the PBC regular season title and, coupled with an Augusta State loss on Wednesday, can win the title outright for only the second time in school history.

NABC/Division II Top 25 Poll - 2/12/01

-Pirates-