PIKEVILLE – After suffering two slip-ups early in the season, UPIKE men’s basketball fell to No. 16 in the first in-season NAIA Division I Coaches’ Poll, which was released Tuesday.
With the mention, UPIKE now owns the longest active streak in the Top 25, now at 68 consecutive polls.
The Bears are the third-highest ranked team in the Mid-South, behind No. 5 Campbellsville who received a first-place vote, and No. 9 Georgetown who sits at 11-1. Cumberlands (Ky.) also appeared on the poll at No. 21.
UPIKE has made its presence felt early in the season, leading the NAIA in field goal percentage (.547) and is third in points per game (100.0). Senior Jayvian Delacruz is third in the NAIA at 24.5 points per game and junior Xaviar Gaona is 14th in 3-point field goal percentage (.524).
UP NEXT
UPIKE’s next game is at 4 p.m. Sunday against Bluefield, who is receiving votes in the most recent NAIA Division II Coaches’ Poll, at the East Kentucky Expo Center.
(Source: UPIKE Sports Information Office)