Men's Basketball Ascends To No. 12 In NABC/DII Top 25 Poll

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team rose to No. 12 in this week's NABC/Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, released today. The ranking is the highest for the Pirates in the Peach Belt era and is the highest for Pirate basketball since the 1978-79 season.

The Pirates (14-2) were the biggest movers in the poll, shooting up six spots from No. 18 to No. 12. The previous high ranking in the PBC era for AASU came on February 21, 2006, when the Pirates were No. 15. The last time AASU ranked this high in the national rankings came on January 17, 1979, when the Pirates were No. 8.

That year is also the last time an AASU squad started as quickly as this year's edition of the Pirates have, as that team also began the season 14-2.

There are an unprecedented four Peach Belt teams in the rankings this week. Augusta State fell three spots to No. 7, while USC Aiken - AASU's opponent on Saturday - comes in at No. 14. GCSU enters the poll at No. 24, giving the league four ranked teams for the first time in history.

Undefeated Findlay remains the No. 1 team in the land, followed by LIU-C.W. Post, the only other unbeaten team in the nation. Central Oklahoma is third, followed by BYU-Hawaii and head coach Jeff Burkhamer's alma mater, Alderson-Broaddus.

The Pirates will defend their ranking on Wednesday evening when they host Clayton State in a PBC affair at 7:30 p.m. at Alumni Arena.