Wednesday, January 16, 2013

It'll be a top-25 matchup when XU Gold Rush meet PSC Panthers

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Xavier University of Louisiana and Philander Smith share more than just first place in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. They're both in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, which was announced Tuesday. Xavier is 13th — up three places and matching its highest position of the season — and Philander Smith is 22nd and in its first top-25 appearance this season.

The Gold Rush (16-3 overall, 4-0 GCAC) and Panthers (13-4, 4-0) will meet at noon Saturday at XU's new Convocation Center to break the tie for first place. The loser will have sole possession of second place.

Philander Smith will be the first ranked opponent to play the Gold Rush at the Convocation Center. The Panthers will be Xavier's first ranked home opponent since XU rallied from 16 down to defeat No. 18 Tougaloo in the final game at The Barn nearly a year ago.

Xavier is in the top 25 for the 29th time in 30 polls and the 54th time overall during Dannton Jackson's 10 seasons as head coach.

Wanto Joseph's basket with 0.7 seconds remaining in overtime Monday gave the Gold Rush a 70-68 home victory against city rival SUNO, another GCAC team which received votes this week. Xavier will enter Saturday's game with a five-game win streak. Philander Smith has won nine in a row.
    
Voting was based on games through Sunday. The next poll will be released Jan. 22.


   
NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Jan. 13)
Rank
Team
Record
Points
Last
1
Columbia (Mo.) (11)
17-0
281
2
2
Pikeville
17-1
271
5
3
Lewis-Clark State
18-1
256
3
4
William Carey
15-2
254
6
5
Oklahoma Baptist
15-3
252
4
6
Lee (Tenn.)
15-1
232
7
7
Westmont
14-3
222
8
8-tie
Cal State San Marcos
15-4
209
tie-10
8-tie
Lindsey Wilson
16-2
209
14
10
John Brown
15-3
188
25
11
Evangel
13-4
187
13
12
Montana State Northern
16-3
181
tie-10
13
Xavier
15-3
173
16
14
Cumberlands
15-3
168
1
15
Bethel (Tenn.)
17-2
166
17
16
Hope International
17-1
145
RV
17
Southwestern Assemblies of God
14-3
142
21
18
Emmanuel (Ga.)
16-2
121
20
19
Westminster (Utah)
14-4
120
18
20
Rogers State
13-5
119
19
21
Faulkner
16-3
82
23
22
Philander Smith
12-4
78
RV
23
Science & Arts
8-4
77
9
24
Texas College
13-4
76
tie-10
25
MidAmerica Nazarene
14-5
74
RV

Others receiving votes: Arizona Christian 60, Concordia (Calif.) 34, Texas Wesleyan 31, SUNO 28, Oklahoma City 18, Culver-Stockton 13, Shawnee State 9, LSU-Shreveport 7, Mid-Continent 3.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS

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