For the first time since making the move to the NAIA Div. I level, the Raven men’s basketball team is nationally-ranked.

Riding a eight-game winning streak, the Ravens jumped from the receiving votes category to No. 13 in the first regular season NAIA Div. I Top 25 Coaches’ poll on Tuesday when the poll was released.

The Ravens were the biggest mover in the poll this week, jumping 20 spots from their preseason ranking. Benedictine received five Top 25 points in the preseason poll and were the ninth team listed in the others receiving votes category.

“The first NAIA Division I ranking for our program is exciting and a tribute to the hard work and dedication our players and staff have put in to this point,” said Raven head coach Ryan Moody. “We have a long season ahead of us, this is just a snapshot. We are honored but we know we have a tough road in front of us.”

Benedictine is one of three teams ranked in the first regular season poll with the conference chasing No. 5 Evangel. Off to a 9-1 start, the Crusaders moved from a preseason ranking of No. 9 while Culver-Stockton College, at 8-1, remained at No. 18.

MNU is the fourth team listed in the others receiving votes category while Graceland University also garnered seven top 25 points to give the HAAC five nationally-recognized programs.

Benedictine returns to HAAC play on Saturday with a 4 p.m. game against Central Methodist University. The Eagles are 7-5 this season and 0-1 in the HAAC. They have two losses against current NAIA Div. I No. 1 Columbia (Mo.) College and one of their wins is over preseason No. 21 Park University.

As a team, the Ravens currently rank No. 1 in NAIA Div. I 3-point field goal percentage at 47.4 percent. They are also ranked No. 7 in field goal percentage with an average of 52.2 percent.

Individually, the Ravens have two players through nine games ranked for their efforts from beyond the 3-point arc. Shawn Fleming Jr., ranks No. 1 at 60.0 percent as one of four players currently hitting that percentage. Brett Fisher is ranked No. 9 at 54.8 percent.

After taking on CMU on Saturday, the Ravens will host top-ranked Columbia College at 1 p.m. Dec. 18, to wrap up their 2013 schedule.

— BC Sports Information —