Gold Rush streak of top-25 appearances ends at 55

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's best-in-the-nation streak of 55 consecutive appearances in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll ended Tuesday. The Gold Rush, 21st a week ago, are among "others receiving votes" and 28th overall.
    
Xavier is 15-8 after a 62-58 overtime home loss Monday to Talladega, which dropped from eighth to ninth nationally.
    
This is the first time since Dec. 5, 2011, that the Gold Rush are not in the top 25. Xavier's highest ranking during the streak was 11th on Jan. 22, 2013, and Feb. 5, 2013.
    
Pikeville is No. 1 for the third consecutive week but received 8-of-10 first-place votes after being unanimous a week ago. No. 2 LSU-Alexandria and No. 5 Georgetown (Ky.) received the other first-place votes.
    
 Xavier will visit city rival SUNO at 7:30 p.m. Monday. The next Gold Rush home game will start at 5 p.m. Feb. 6 — one week from Saturday — against Dillard in the Crosstown Classic at the Convocation Center. Tickets are on sale at the XU athletic offices in room 322 of the Convocation Center Annex at the corner of Washington Avenue and Fern Street. Dillard, co-leader in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference with Talladega, is No. 24 this week — the Bleu Devils' first top-25 appearance since Jan. 27, 2004.
    
Dillard is the fifth GCAC men's team to reach the top 25 this season.

NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
1. Pikeville
2. LSU-Alexandria
3. Lewis-Clark State
4. Columbia (Mo.)
5. Georgetown (Ky.)
6. William Penn
7. (tie) Mid-America Christian
7. (tie) Hope International
9. Talladega
10. Arizona Christian
11. Biola
12. Texas Wesleyan
13. Langston
14. Carroll (Mont.)
15. Westmont
16. Park
17. Freed-Hardeman
18. Campbellsville
19. William Carey
20. Southwestern Assemblies of God
21. Peru State
22. Our Lady of the Lake
23. MidAmerica Nazarene
24. Dillard
25. (tie) William Woods
25. (tie) Montana Western

Others receiving votes:
Mobile
Xavier
Avila
Middle Georgia
Lindsey Wilson
Cumberlands
LSU-Shreveport
William Jessup

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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