Seattle Pacific Men Reach No. 11 in Return to National Rankings
January 18, 2005

SEATTLE (Jan. 18) ­ Not only has Seattle Pacific University returned to the NCAA Division II men's basketball national rankings for the first time in three years, but the Falcons have debuted at No.11.

Winner of 10 of its last 11 games, including a pair of victories over ranked teams, Seattle Pacific made its first top 20 appearance since finishing the 2001-02 season at No. 9. The Falcons moved to 12-3 overall with last week's defeat of then-No. 14 Western Washington, 76-68. They face No. 16 Alaska Fairbanks at Brougham Pavilion Saturday at 3.

The three SPU losses this season were to Washington (currently No. 10 in Div. I), Hawaii Hilo (now No. 24 in Div. II) and Central Washington, which has three wins over ranked foes. In addition to Western Washington, SPU has defeated Central Missouri, now No. 21.

Unbeaten Metropolitan State (Co.) is No. 1 in Div. II, followed by Virginia Union.

The Falcons seek their eighth straight home win Thursday night when they host Alaska Anchorage at 7.

Records followed by first-place votes in parentheses and total points
1. Metropolitan State (Co.) (8), 14-0
2. Virginia Union, 12-1, 189
3. Minnesota State Mankato, 17-1, 185
4. Bentley (Ma.,) 16-2, 171
5. Southern Illinois Edwardsville, 15-2, 165
6. Findlay (Oh.), 14-2, 150
7. West Georgia, 14-2, 145
8. Indiana (Pa.), 14-2, 135
9. Kennesaw State (Ga.), 12-2, 125
10. Central Arkansas, 13-2, 112
11. Seattle Pacific, 12-3, 104
12. Bowie State (Md.) 12-2, 100
13. Texas A&M-Commerce, 13-3, 99
14. Pittsburg State (Ks.) 13-2, 98
15. Edinboro (Pa.) 14-2, 84
16. Alaska Fairbanks, 11-4, 74
17. Southwestern Oklahoma State, 13-2, 64
18. South Dakota, 15-1, 53
19. Cal State San Bernardino, 10-2, 50
20. Fort Lewis (Co.), 11-2, 49
21. Central Missouri State, 12-3, 42
22. Saint Anselm (NH), 13-2, 39
23. Nebraska-Omaha, 15-3, 30
24. Hawaii-Hilo, 16-2, 28
25. Grand Valley State, (Mi.), 11-4, 18

Others receiving votes: Lynn (Fl.) 16, South Carolina Upstate 16, Saint Rose (NY) 14, Florida Gulf Coast 11, Ferris State (Mi.) 10, Emporia State (Ks.) 8, Mount Olive (NC. 7, Michigan Tech 5, Gannon (Pa.) 3, Barry (Fl.) 1.