FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll

Jan. 2, 2013 - For the first time in its 111-year history, the North Central College men's basketball team is the No. 1-ranked NCAA Division III program in the nation, taking the top spot this week's Top 25 Poll released by D3hoops.com.

The Cardinals had been ranked third in the previous poll, released on Dec. 17. North Central won twice at the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas on Dec. 28-29, defeating No. 10-ranked Ramapo College (N.J.), 67-57, before posting a 80-72 victory over the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Having closed non-conference play with a perfect record of 11-0, the Cardinals are off to the second-best start in the program's history and currently own its third-longest winning streak. North Central opened the season with 12 straight wins in 2005-2006, and put together a 14-game winning streak during the 1989-1990 campaign.

North Central 605 points and 12 of the 25 first-place votes in this week's poll. Middlebury College (Vt.) was a close second with 602 points and nine first-place votes, while the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) was third with 591 points and four first-place votes. The top five is rounded out by the University of Rochester (N.Y.) and Washington University in St. Louis.

North Central is one of four College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) teams to be ranked in the top 25, joining eighth-ranked Wheaton College, 19th-ranked Augustana College and 25th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University.

North Central opens CCIW play Wednesday evening, traveling to face Elmhurst College. Tipoff at R.A. Faganel Hall is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and links to live in-game statistics, audio and video can be accessed at northcentralcardinals.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball.