SEATTLE (Dec. 17) -- Following its eighth straight victory, Seattle Pacific University moved up three spots in the NCAA Division II men's basketball poll this week. It's the highest ranking for the Falcons (8-1) since the end of the 2000 national tournament, when they advanced to the Final Four.

SPU defeated Henderson State, formerly No. 8, in the High Desert Classic Saturday.

The only other Great Northwest Athletic Conference team included in the rankings is undefeated Humboldt State at No. 14. Western Washington dropped out of the ratings for the first time this week.

Seattle Pacific, which plays its next seven games at home, resumes play Dec. 28-29 when it hosts the Oak Harbor Freight Lines Holiday Classic.

NABC/Division II Bulletin Coaches Poll for Dec. 17
1. Kentucky Wesleyan 8-0
2. Northeastern State (Ok.) 10-0
3. Tampa 5-0
4. Washburn (Ks.) 6-0
5. St. Cloud State (Mn.) 8-0
6. Cal State San Bernardino 7-0
7. Charleston (WV) 6-1
8. Florida Southern 6-2
9. Northwest Missouri State 7-0
10. Adelphi (NY) 7-1
11. Salem International (WV) 8-0
12. Seattle Pacific 8-1
13. Delta State (Ms.) 7-1
14. Humboldt State (Ca.) 9-0
15. Michigan Tech 8-0
16. Wisconsin-Parkside 9-1
17. Shaw (NC) 7-1
18. Missouri Southern 7-1
19. Bentley (Ma.) 6-1
20. South Dakota 8-1
21. Montana State-Billings 8-0
22. Henderson State (Ar.) 7-2
23. Lynn (Fl.) 7-2
24. Gannon (Pa.) 7-0
25. Winston-Salem State 8-1
Others receiving consideration: Wingate (9-2), Findlay (7-0), Hillsdale (7-0), Pace (6-1), South Dakota State (8-2), Catawba (7-2), Cal Poly-Pomona (6-1), Shippensburg (5-0), Missouri-Rolla (7-1), Fort Hays State (8-1), St. Augustine's (6-0), West Virginia Wesleyan (6-1), Nebraska-Omaha (8-2), Belmont Abbey (5-1). The next ranking will be released on Monday, Jan. 7