RELEASE DATE: 1/20/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIE MEN BREAK INTO TOP 25 POLL – MANSFIELD RANKS 24^TH IN LATEST NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL POLL

MANSFIELD – It took a while, but the Mansfield University men’s basketball team finally got the recognition its deserves with a 15-2 record with a 24^th ranking in the NCAA Division II Bulletin Top 25 released this morning.

“It’s been a goal of this team to earn a place in the Top 25,” said head coach Vince Alexander. “I know some people thought we deserved to be there earlier than this, but were happy to be recognized as one of the top programs in the country.”

The Mountaineers have the best record in the PSAC with a 15-2 mark and top the PSAC East at 2-0. Mansfield has won its last six games, four of which were on the road.

Four players, including PSAC scoring and rebounding leader Omari Pearson, are scoring in double figures. Pearson (19.9 ppg), Brett Longpre’ (16.0 ppg), Bill McNeil (14.2 ppg) and Brandon DeShields (10.1 ppg).

The 15-2 mark is the best start for the Mountaineers since 1996-97 when Mansfield won the PSAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA playoffs with a school record 26-4 record. That team finished 10^th in the country in the final Division II Bulletin Poll.

The Mountaineers have two tough road contest this week when they travel to Bloomsburg on Wednesday and Cheyney on Saturday.

 

1. Tarleton St. (13-2)
2. Northwest Missouri (14-1)
3. Pfeiffer (12-0)
4. Christian Brothers (13-1)
5. Florida Gulf Coast (14-0)
6. Neb. Kearney (13-1)
7. Humboldt St. (14-3)
8. Metropolitan St. (13-2)
9. Valdosta St. (14-1)
10. Washburn (14-0)
11. South Dakota St. (17-3)
12. Lewis (15-1)
13. Indianapolis (15-2)
14. Southern Indiana (13-3)

15. Findlay (13-4)
16. Umass Lowell (13-3)
17. Francis Marion (14-1)
18. Cal St. San B'Dino (12-1)
19. Michigan Tech (10-3)
20. Queens (9-3)
21. Virginia Union (11-1)
22. BYU Hawaii (14-2)
23. Colorado Christian (14-1)
24. Mansfield (15-2)
25. Lenoir-Rhyne (12-3)