CLEVELAND - Coach Jason Conner and the Statesmen (13-4, 4-1 GSC) of Delta State University were ranked No. 5 in the first NCAA South Region Poll, as released by the NCAA on Wednesday. The Statesmen, who have a 10-3 record versus NCAA Division II opponents, went 1-1 last week with an 83-59 victory over Southern Arkansas and a hard-fought 88-77 loss at No. 1 Arkansas Tech.
Arkansas Tech, ranked No. 1 in the NABC Division II Top 25, held down the top spot with a 14-0 NCAA DII mark. Clark-Atlanta was No. 2 followed by Valdosta State, Rollins College and DSU in the top five.
The complete top 10 is listed below. The top eight teams ranked in the NCAA South Region Poll advance to the NCAA South Region Tournament to held on campuses March 12-15, 2010.
The Statesmen return to action Thursday at Walter Sillers Coliseum versus Harding University (8-9). Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
Complete NCAA Regional Rankings
NCAA South Region Poll (1.27.2010) - DII Record only
1. Arkansas Tech (14-0)
2. Clark Atlanta (12-1)
3. Valdosta State (14-2)
4. Rollins (8-3)
5. Delta State (10-3)
6. Florida Southern (9-2)
7. Tuskegee (8-3)
8. Barry (6-4)
9. Christian Brothers (10-5)
10. Alabama-Huntsville (10-5)