Gold Rush improve to No. 11 in NAIA coaches rankings

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana climbed again Tuesday in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25. The Gold Rush (18-5) improved to a season-best 11th in the rankings.

Xavier climbed for the fifth consecutive poll and reached 11th or higher for the 16th time in Dannton Jackson's 11 seasons as head coach. Another climb next week would put the Gold Rush in the top 10 for the first time in three years.

The Gold Rush won 74-69 at Tougaloo on Saturday, then won 83-78 Monday at then-No. 20 Philander Smith. The Panthers moved to 17th in the poll.

Xavier is in the top 25 for the 31st consecutive time -- the longest active streak in the division -- and the 44th time in the last 45 polls. Columbia (Mo.) is second with an active streak of 29 polls, and Evangel is third with 21.

The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference's other top-25 team is Talladega, which remained seventh and is in the top 10 for the fifth consecutive poll.

Cal State San Marcos received 9-of-10 first-place votes and took sole possession of No. 1 after sharing the top spot with Freed-Hardeman a week ago.

Xavier, winner of 13 of its last 15 games,  will visit GCAC and city rival SUNO at 5 p.m. Saturday. New rankings will be announced next Tuesday (Feb. 11).

The top 25:

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

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