Off to an 8-2 start, the Benedictine Men’s Basketball team moved to No. 6 this week when the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the first regular-season Div. I Men’s Basketball Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.

Benedictine moved down two spots into a tie with Talladega (Ala.) for the No. 6-spot with 198 points.

The Ravens are the highest-rated member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the first regular season poll.

Evangel University slipped from No. 20 to No. 24 while Culver-Stockton College fell from No. 24 to No. 25.

Heading into the final weeks of December, the Ravens are ranked fifth in scoring defense per game (59.2) and field goal percent defense (0.362). They are also ranked sixth in free throw percentage at 74.6 percent.

Individually, Jallen Messersmith ranks fourth in NAIA Div. I in blocks (25) and blocks per game (2.5).

The Ravens host NAIA Div. II York (Neb.) College at 7 p.m. Tuesday inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.

— BC Sports Information —