The Benedictine (Kan.) College men’s basketball team saw the second-highest jump this week when the NAIA released the weekly Div. I Top 25 Coaches’ Poll on Tuesday afternoon.

Benedictine improved to 15-4 last week with wins over then-No. 11 ranked Culver-Stockton College at home on Thursday and followed that up with a win over then-No. 5 ranked Evangel University in Springfield, Mo, on Saturday in the NAIA Men’s Basketball Game of the Week. For their efforts, the Ravens jumped from No. 15 to No. 9 in the latest poll.

Culver-Stockton fell to No. 15 while Evangel fell to No. 10 as the Ravens took over sole possession of first place in the HAAC. MNU was listed in the other’s receiving votes category giving the HAAC four teams on the national rating list.

The move to No. 9 marks the highest ranking for the Ravens since they made the jump to NAIA Div. I for the 2008-09 season.

As a team, the Ravens continue to lead the NAIA in 3-point field goal percentage at 43.8 percent. They also rank 12th in field goal percentage (49.1) and 3-pointers per game (8.3).

Individually, Shawn Fleming Jr. ranks No. 2 in NAIA Div. I in 3-point percentage at 52.3 percent as the majority of the conference begins the second half of HAAC play on Thursday.

Brett Fisher also ranks in the top 10 in the same category, ranked seventh (49.3) headed into this week.

Jallen Messersmith continues to hold steady in two major defensive categories. He is currently ranked fifth in both blocks per game (2.4) and total blocks (38).

Benedictine leads the HAAC in scoring defense, limiting their opponents to 69.2 ppg over 19 games. They are second in field goal defense at 41.5 percent while leading the HAAC in 3-point field goal percentage.

The Ravens open up the second half of HAAC play on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against Peru State College inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium. On Dec. 5, Benedictine defeated Peru State 80-70 in Peru, Neb.

— BC Sports Information —