KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Montevallo men's basketball team retained its No. 10 ranking in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II coaches poll, which was released Dec. 17.
The Falcons (8-0 overall, 1-0 in Peach Belt Conference) are ranked No. 10 for the second week in a row. Montevallo's highest ranking came during the 2005-06 season, when the Falcons spent six weeks as the No. 1 ranked team in the country.
The Falcons have been ranked for five consecutive weeks after being listed in the teams receiving votes category in the preseason poll. The Falcons were ranked No.22 in the first regular season poll, No. 16 in the second poll and No. 12 in the third poll before moving inside the top 10 in last week's poll.
The Falcons, who received 245 votes in the latest poll, wrapped up non-conference play Dec. 7 with a 69-58 win on the road at the University of West Florida. Junior Ryan May knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Falcons to a 77-74 win on the road at Columbus State University in their Peach Belt Conference opener Dec. 14.
Montevallo is one of three Peach Belt Conference teams ranked in the top 25 in the latest poll. Georgia Southwestern State University moved up three spots to No. 18 in the most recent poll. UNC Pembroke, which was ranked No. 22 last week, and USC Aiken are the only other conference teams receiving votes in the national poll.
West Liberty (W. Va.) remained No. 1 in the latest poll and received 13 first-place votes. Bellarmine (Ky.) is again ranked No. 2 and received two first-place votes. Drury (Mo.), Florida Southern and Western Washington round out the top five, with Florida Southern receiving one first-place vote.
Junior Troran Brown currently ranks third in the Peach Belt Conference with an average of 19 points per game. The 6-foot-2 guard from Phoenix, Ariz. is also leading the conference with an average of 7.2 assists per game, which ranks him fifth nationally in NCAA Division II. Montevallo is currently leading the conference with its 50.8 percent shooting from the floor.
Montevallo is also second in the conference in opponents' field-goal percentage, limiting foes to 37.2 percent shooting from the floor, which ranks the Falcons eighth nationally in NCAA Division II.
The Falcons return to action tonight against visiting GRU Augusta in their home opener in Peach Belt Conference play.
Tip-off at Trustmark Arena is set for 7:30 p.m.
