William Penn Fourth in First Ranking
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Ten wins in its first 11 games have kept the Statesmen men’s basketball team near the head of the class as the NAIA Division I top-25 poll was released Tuesday.
William Penn (10-1, 6-1 Heart) is down one spot from the preseason rating to #4 with 203 points and one first-place vote. It is the third time in the last five years that WPU has started the season with at least 10 wins in its first 11 games.
The Statesmen are one of five teams from the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the ranking. Grand View jumps from unranked to #13, while Benedictine is #23. Graceland (#33) and Central Methodist (#41) are also receiving votes.
Biola (Calif.) is the new #1 with 210 points and two first-place votes. LSU Alexandria and Georgetown (Ky.) are tied for second just two points back; both teams have three first-place votes. Following WPU, Oklahoma City rounds out the top five.
NAIA Men’s Basketball Rating #1 – December 6, 2016
(Number in parentheses in first-place votes)
1. Biola (Calif.) (2)
2. LSU Alexandria (3)
2. Georgetown (Ky.) (3)
4. William Penn (1)
5. Oklahoma City
6. Carroll (Mont.)
7. Columbia (Mo.)
8. William Carey (Miss.)
9. Westmont (Calif.)
10. Mid-America Christian (Okla.)
11. Wiley (Texas)
12. Park (Mo.)
13. Grand View
14. Pikeville (Ky.)
15. Hope International (Calif.)
16. Dillard (La.)
17. Montana Western
18. Talladega (Ala.)
19. Texas Wesleyan
20. Langston (Okla.)
21. Wayland Baptist (Texas)
22. Loyola (La.)
23. Benedictine (Kan.)
24. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
25. Arizona Christian
Others receiving votes: Life (Ga.) 37, LSU Shreveport (La.) 36, Montana State-Northern 36, Bethel (Tenn.) 28, Cumberlands (Ky.) 28, Blue Mountain (Miss.) 23, Vanguard (Calif.) 15, Graceland 14, SAGU (Texas) 10, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 7, Central Methodist (Mo.) 4.
