Bellarmine MBB Up Two Spots To No. 17 in NABC poll

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After taking a week off for the NCAA winter break, the NABC Division II Poll was released on Tuesday, with no changes in the top six teams while Bellarmine saw its ranking creep up two spots to No. 17.

The Knights’ next opponent, Lincoln Memorial, also moved up two positions and will be the No. 11 team in the nation when Bellarmine entertains the Railsplitters on Jan. 2 at 3 p.m.

West Liberty held onto the top spot after winning its last game prior to the break, while Augustana did likewise to stay in the second spot. Western Oregon got a win at then-No. 11 UC San Diego and stayed third, while Minnesota State-Moorhead, Cal Poly Pomona and Angelo State all retained their spots among the top six.
Fairmont State moved up a spot to seventh following Tarleton State’s loss to Drury, as did Seattle Pacific to eighth and Midwestern State to ninth. Queens (N.C.) joined the top 10 for the first time this season as it retained its perfect mark.

Lincoln Memorial begins the second 10 at No. 11, followed by Tarleton State, UC San Diego and California Baptist, while Eckerd vaulted six spots to No. 15.

Ashland also made a six-spot leap to No. 16, followed by Bellarmine, Lake Superior State, Saint Anselm and the first new entry to the poll this week in Fort Lewis.

Fort Lewis is one of five teams that moved into the top 25 this week with the other four coming in after No. 21 Chico State.

The other newcomers are Columbus State at No. 22, followed by St. Edward’s, Holy Family and Minnesota State.

NABC/Division II Rankings
(Dec. 29, 2015 – Poll #5)
Record Points Last
1. West Liberty, W.Va. (16) 10-0 400 1
2. Augustana, S.D. 9-1 371 2
3. Western Oregon 9-0 367 3
4. Minnesota State-Moorhead 14-1 342 4
5. Cal Poly Pomona 11-0 337 5
6. Angelo State, Texas 12-0 328 6
7. Fairmont State, W.Va. 9-1 293 8
8. Seattle Pacific, Wash. 9-1 286 9
9. Midwestern State, Texas 8-1 258 10
10. Queens, N.C. 11-0 242 12
11. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. 10-1 219 13
12. Tarleton State, Texas 9-2 197 7
13. UC San Diego 9-1 195 11
14. California Baptist 11-2 178 18
15. Eckerd, Fla. 12-1 174 21
16. Ashland, Ohio 9-1 154 22
17. Bellarmine, Ky. 8-2 139 19
18. Lake Superior State, Mich. 9-1 123 T25
19. Saint Anselm, N.H. 9-1 110 T25
20. Fort Lewis, Colo. 9-1 103 NR
21. Chico State, Calif. 9-2 74 17
22. Columbus State, Ga. 8-1 48 NR
23. St. Edward’s, Texas 9-1 45 NR
24. Holy Family, Pa. 10-2 26 NR
25. Minnesota State 9-2 22 NR
Others receiving votes: Ferris State (Mich.) 19, West Chester (Pa.) 18, Southern Connecticut State 15, Bentley (Mass.) 14, Rollins (Fla.) 14, Delta State (Miss.) 13, Indianapolis (Ind.) 12, Barry (Fla.) 11, Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 8, Kentucky Wesleyan 7, Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) 7, Lewis (Ill.) 6, Arkansas Tech 5, Kutztown (Pa.) 5, Alabama-Huntsville 3, Central Missouri 3, Texas A&M-Commerce 3, Colorado School of Mines 2, Wisconsin-Parkside 2, Arkansas-Fort Smith 1.

Records are through games of Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015.

Dropped out: King (14), Central Missouri (15), Rollins (16), Southern Connecticut State (20), Kentucky Wesleyan (23), Colorado School of Mines (24), Northwest Missouri State (T25).

by John Spugnardi