Tuesday, December 9, 2014

No. 22 Gold Rush preserve NAIA's longest poll streak

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana dropped nine spots to 22nd Tuesday in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 but maintained its distinction as the school with the longest current streak of appearances.

The Gold Rush (8-4) are in the top 25 for the 39th consecutive time and the 52nd time in the last 53 polls. Xavier started its streak on Dec. 12, 2011.

Xavier is one of three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference teams in the top 25. Talladega is tied for sixth, and Philander Smith is 17th.

The Gold Rush will visit Mobile at 3 p.m. Saturday, then play Faulkner at 7 p.m. Monday at the Convocation Center in the second game of a doubleheader. Xavier will then play three in a row against top-10 teams: 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at No. 5 William Carey, 7 p.m. Dec. 30 at home against No. 9 Concordia (Calif.) and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 5 at Talladega.

Cal State San Marcos received 5-of-10 first-place votes and replaced defending champion Vanguard at No. 1. Hope International, which defeated Xavier in the first round of last season's national tournament, climbed from 10th to third.

The next poll will be announced Jan. 6.

The top 25:

1. Cal State San Marcos
2. Campbellsville
3. Hope International
4. Pikeville
5. William Carey
6. (tie) Talladega
6. (tie) Benedictine (Kan.)
8. Martin Methodist
9. Concordia (Calif.)
10. Freed-Hardeman
11. Oklahoma Baptist
12. LSU-Shreveport
13. (tie) Dalton State
13. (tie) Rocky Mountain
15. Georgetown (Ky.)
16. Wayland Baptist
17. Philander Smith
18. Texas Wesleyan
19. Arizona Christian
20. Our Lady of the Lake
21. Lewis-Clark State
22. Xavier
23. Southwestern Assemblies of God
24. Evangel
25. Culver-Stockton


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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