Oskaloosa–The national raters rewarded the William Penn men’s basketball team for its outstanding start by placing the program at #6 as the NAIA released its first Division I rating Tuesday.

The Statesmen (11-1, 4-0 Heart), winners of 11 straight, were lifted 25 positions from a preseason ranking of #31.  The ranking is the highest for William Penn since finishing the 2012-2013 campaign at #2 (WPU was #7 to start the 13-14 year).

The Statesmen have earned 210 points, while #1 Pikeville (Ky.) has 250 points and nine first-place votes.  Georgetown (Ky.), with the final first-place nod, is second and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), Arizona Christian, and Columbia (Mo.) round out the top five.

Saturday’s matchup will be a big one as #13 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) comes to Oskaloosa for a 4 p.m. start.  Avila (Mo.) also represents the Heart at #24.

NAIA Men’s Basketball Rating #1 – December 8, 2015
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Pikeville (Ky.) (9)
2. Georgetown (Ky.) 1)
3. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
4. Arizona Christian
5. Columbia (Mo.)
6. William Penn
7. Lewis-Clarke State (Idaho)
8. LSU-Alexandria
9. Dalton State (Ga.)
10. Hope International (Calif.)
11. Talladega (Ala.)
12. Wayland Baptist (Texas)
13. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
14. Westmont (Calif.)
15. SAGU (Texas)
16. Carroll (Mont.)
17. Xavier (La.)
17. Martin Methodist (Tenn.)
19. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
20. Texas Wesleyan
21. Vanguard (Calif.)
22. Wiley (Texas)
23. Langston (Okla.)
24. Avila (Mo.)
25. Montana State-Northern

Others receiving votes: Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) 41; Campbellsville (Ky.) 32; Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 26; Dillard (La.) 21; Biola (Calif.) 17; Mobile (Ala.) 15; Park (Mo.) 9; Tougaloo (Miss.) 8; William Woods (Mo.) 3.

Story Provided by Wade Steinlage