NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Top 25 Coaches' Poll

After posting a 4-2 record over Christmas Break, the Malone University men's basketball team climbed three spots to No. 20 when the fourth edition of the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll was announced on Monday evening.
 
The Pioneers collected 177 points, coming in 20 points behind 19th-ranked University of Sioux Falls (SD). Local rival Walsh University, which held on for a narrow 80-77 victory over Malone last Thursday at Osborne Hall, maintained its No. 1 ranking after securing 436 points and 15 of 16 first-place votes. With 409 points, Cornerstone (MI) University slid up to No. 2, taking the spot of Oklahoma Wesleyan University which dropped to No. 3 with 406 points. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical (FL) University was right behind in the fourth position with 404 points and defending national champion University of Saint Francis (IN) rounded out the top five at 380.

Malone currently owns a record of 11-6 overall with a 4-1 mark in the American Mideast Conference. The Pioneers will return to action on Tuesday at home with a 7:30 p.m. contest against AMC foe Mt. Vernon Nazarene University. The Cougars own an identical 11-6 mark on the season and were listed among those receiving votes in Monday's national poll.