3 CCC Hoop Teams Listed in NAIA Top 25
KANSAS CITY – Three Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s basketball programs are ranked in this week’s NAIA Top 25 poll, with a fourth just narrowly missing earning inclusion in the weekly listing.
Oregon Tech (18-3, 7-2 CCC), the national leader in victories, climbed four spots to the No. 3 position, its highest ranking of the season. The Hustlin’ Owls defeated rival Southern Oregon Saturday in their only game last week. OIT has been ranked in 57 consecutive polls, dating to mid-January of 2005.
Warner Pacific (15-4, 7-2 CCC) remained in the No. 6 position after splitting a pair of games last weekend. The Knights, who share the sixth spot with Embry-Riddle (Fla)., had a 10-game win streak snapped when they dropped a 73-72 decision to Evergreen.
Eastern Oregon (14-5, 7-2 CCC) moved up four spots to No. 18 after sweeping Northwest Christian and Corban.
Evergreen (14-5, 7-2 CCC), which has won eight of its last nine games, totaled 81 points in the balloting of a nationwide panel of coaches, falling five points shy of the No. 25 spot. The Geoducks are ranked 26th.
All four teams share first place in the CCC at the season’s midway point. The second half of the CCC campaign gets underway Friday.