Statesmen Outside Top 25 for First Time

William Penn University Athletics

Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s basketball will open league competition with an uphill climb in the ratings as the third NAIA Division II top-25 poll was released Tuesday.

WPU (11-5), which most recently fell to then-#9 Bellevue on December 13, is now 29th with 51 points. The navy and gold had been ranked as high as #18 in the preseason and first poll. All five of the team’s setbacks are to squads ranked #21 or higher.

Indiana Wesleyan is still #1 with 371 points and ten first-place votes, while the lone undefeated team in the nation, Embry-Riddle (Fla.), made a big jump #2 with the final four first-place nods. Dakota Wesleyan, Bellevue, and College of Idaho wrap up the top five.

Mount Mercy is now the highest-ranked program from the Midwest Collegiate Conference, jumping all the way to #19.

The Statesmen open MCC play tonight at Grand View at 7:30 p.m.