NABC Top 25 Poll

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines men's basketball will enter the new year at #4 in the latest NABC Division II Men's Basketball poll, their best showing in eight years as they moved up one spot from the previous poll.

The ranking is the highest for the Orediggers (6-0, 5-0 RMAC) since they climbed to #2 late in the 2011-12 season. Mines has ridden one of the nation's best defenses to an unbeaten fall semester, ranking second in NCAA Division II in scoring defense (55.2 ppg), third in field-goal percentage defense (.343), and 10th in blocks per game (4.3) while also ranking seventh in scoring margin (+17.3 ppg) and 11th in field-goal percentage offense (.498). 

RMAC rival Colorado Mesa moved up to #14 in this poll as Northwest Missouri State remained the unanimous #1 ahead of #2 Lincoln Memorial and #3 West Texas A&M. Mines jumped over #6 West Liberty, which has yet to play a game, while fellow 6-0 team Washburn moved up to the #5 spot. 

Mines is coming off a hard-fought 79-73 win on Dec. 19 over Fort Lewis, which was receiving votes in the previous NABC top 25 poll. The Orediggers start back up this Sunday, Jan. 3 at Chadron State at 6 p.m.