Gold Rush climb again in NAIA poll, this time to 13th

NEW ORLEANS -- Coach Dannton Jackson repeatedly has described the 2013-14 season of his Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball team as a journey. The Gold Rush on Tuesday continued their upward journey in the NAIA Division I Coaches' Top 25, moving three places to 13th.

It's the first time since the 2003-04 season that the Gold Rush (16-5, 5-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) have climbed in four consecutive polls. Xavier has won 11 of its last 13 games, including 5-of-6 on the road. The Rush have excelled with six newcomers, four returning lettermen, two redshirt freshmen and no returning starters from the previous season.

Xavier is in the top 25 for the 30th consecutive time -- the longest active streak in the division -- and the 43rd time in the last 44 polls.

The GCAC has three top-25 teams for the fifth consecutive week. Talladega is seventh, and Philander Smith is 20th.

Cal State San Marcos and Freed-Hardeman share the top position. New rankings will be announced next Tuesday (Feb. 4).

Freezing precipitation forced Xavier to postpone its Tuesday home game against Belhaven. Xavier will visit Tougaloo at 5 p.m. Saturday in the first of four straight Gold Rush road games. Xavier will visit Philander Smith on Monday.

The top 25:

1. (tie) Cal State San Marcos
1. (tie) Freed-Hardeman
3. Pikeville
4. Southwestern Assemblies of God
5. William Carey
6. Columbia (Mo.)
7. Talladega
8. Concordia (Calif.)
9. Benedictine (Kan.)
10. Evangel
11. Emmanuel (Ga.)
12. Vanguard
13. Xavier
14. Rio Grande
15. Culver-Stockton
16. Mid-America Christian
17. LSU-Shreveport
18. Georgetown (Ky.)
19. Montana Western
20. Philander Smith
21. Wiley
22. St. Gregory's
23. Hope International
24. Martin Methodist
25. (tie) Great Falls
25. (tie) Arizona Christian

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold