Pirates Move Up To No. 18 In NABC Top 25 Poll

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team moved up seven spots to No. 18 in the latest NABC/Division II Coaches Poll, released today by the association. The ranking is the highest for the Pirates since the 2005-06 season.

The Pirates (12-2, 5-2 PBC) defeated GCSU, 68-63, last Wednesday in its only action covered by the new poll. AASU knocked off North Georgia, 78-58, on Monday evening, but that result was not tabulated in the newest rankings.

AASU is one of three Peach Belt Conference teams in the current rankings. Augusta State is at No. 4, while USC Aiken is at No. 10. Only one other team in the Southeast Region appears in the poll - Catawba, out of the South Atlantic Conference, is No. 11.

The last time the Pirates achieved this high of a ranking came on February 21, 2006, when AASU was ranked No. 15 in the nation. That is the highest ranking an AASU squad has achieved in the Peach Belt Conference era.

The Pirates return to action on Thursday, January 22, with a 7:30 p.m. Peach Belt Conference contest at Columbus State.

For the complete NABC/Division II Coaches Top 25, visit the following link: http://campus.mst.edu/athleticsarchives/hoops/d2basketball/bbpoll.html