Movin' On Up: Lions in NAIA Poll

SAGU ranked #29 in Coaches Poll

Four RRAC teams among nation's best

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics released this week’s Top 25 Coaches Poll, according to Chad Waller, NAIA Director of Communications & Sports Information, and four teams from the Red River Athletic Conference were among nearly who were ranked.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University remained among those receiving votes for the fourth consecutive week. Coach Donnie Bostwick’s Lions came in at #33 a week ago with nine points.

This week they rose to #29 with 21 points. The team went 1-1 during the week, falling at home to Wiley College, 70-68. SAGU bounced back by thumping Paul Quinn College, 76-63.

The entire poll is posted below.

The Wiley Wildcats, who were also ranked at the time (when they beat SAGU), also fell at home to Texas College, 75-64, to offset the victory. They slipped to #34 with a lone vote.

Our Lady of the Lake University, who were at #23 in the December 12 poll, is quickly ascending. Last week they rolled during a 3-0 week that including a stunning 120-98 home triumph over then #6 Texas Wesleyan University in which they connected on 22 three-pointers.

The Saints are 11-0 and are averaging 108 points per game against the RRAC competition. They defeated SAGU in December, 98-79. They are tops in the nation in both ppg and threes per game (11.9).

SAGU is #3 in the NAIA in treys, connecting on 9.9 per outing.

The Halos visit the Sheaffer Center in three weeks, February 11, a Saturday night.

Texas Wesleyan slid to #13 following their setback to the Saints. They bounced back with wins over Huston-Tillotson, 114-72, and 105-79 over the University of the Southwest.

The TWU Rams make their visit to Waxahachie two days before OLLU visits; Thursday, Feb. 9.

Nationally, Shorter University (Rome, Georgia), moved to #1 for the first time ever. The Hawks are the NAIA’s only unbeaten team at 17-0.

Oklahoma Baptist University, who had just taken over #1 a week ago, was knocked off by Southern Nazarene University, 69-67.
Another team from Oklahoma, also from the same Sooner Athletic Conference, Rogers State University, is ranked #5. Meneptha Darden, formerly at SAGU, is averaging 7.2 ppg and 6.2 rebounds per game while leading the Hillcats in blocked shots (26).

The next poll will be released on Monday, January 23.

The National Christian College Athletic Association’s  weekly Burbridge Rating System has SAGU rated #9 among over 50 Division I members. They are #2 in the Central Regional behind Dallas Baptist University.

The Patriots, at 11-6, are #6 in the NCCAA. DBU plays in the Heartland Conference and are NCAA Division II members.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.

NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll

1 Shorter Univ (Ga) 17-0, 280
2  Oklahoma Baptist 15-1, 269
3  Robert Morris (Ill) 16-1, 267
4  Southern Poly (Ga) 13-2, 240
5  Rogers State (Okla) 15-2, 238
6  Concordia (Calif) 14-3, 231
7  Azusa Pacific (Calif) 14-3, 224
7  Georgetown (Ky) 15-3, 224
9  Martin Methodist (Tenn) 13-3, 223
10  Our Lady of the Lake (Tex) 13-3, 199

11  Lindsey Wilson (Ky) 13-4, 189
12  Montana State-Northern 17-2, 184
13  Texas Wesleyan 12-3, 169
14  Southern Nazarene (Okla) 13-4, 165
15  Mountain State (WVa) 12-6, 157
16  Westmont (Calif) 13-2, 133
17  Evangel Univ (Mo) 14-5, 132
18  Lee Univ (Tenn) 11-3, 126
19  Xavier (La) 12-5, 104
20  Campbellsville (Ky) 13-5, 102

21  Saint Xavier (Ill) 13-4, 96
22  Montana Western 15-5, 86
23  Cumberland (Tenn) 12-3, 83
24  Columbia College (Mo) 14-5, 68
25  Tougaloo College (Miss) 14-5, 59

Key: Number to the right of the team name is their won-lost record. The figure in the far right is their voting point total.

Others Receiving Votes

26) The Master's College (Calif.) 49; 27) Freed-Hardeman (Tenn) 43; 28) Oklahoma City Univ 31; 29) SAGU (Tex) 21; 30) Cal State San Marcos 21; 31) Pikeville (Ky) 21; 32) Westminster (Ut) 16; 33) MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan) 10; 34) Wiley College (Tex) 1; 35) Missouri Baptist 1; 36) Science & Arts (Okla) 1; 37) Cumberlands (Ky) 1; 38) Oklahoma Christian 1; 39) Union Univ (Tenn.) 1; 40) Benedictine College (Kan) 1; 41) Rocky Mountain (Mont) 1; 42) Life Univ (Ga) 1.