Mount Olive slips to No. 3 in new East poll

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on February 24, 2005 2:19 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE - Despite posting a 3-0 record last week to extend its winning streak to five, Mount Olive slipped one spot to No. 3 in this week's NCAA Division II Men's Basketball East Region Poll, it was announced Wednesday. The regional ranking comes one day after Mount Olive earned its highest-ever national ranking, jumping nine places to No. 15 in this week's NABC Division II Top 25.

Mount Olive is 22-3 overall, including a 19-3 mark against teams in the East Region. The Trojans have won 13 of their last 14 games and are one win away from matching last year's school record for most wins in a season.

Mount Olive is one of two Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference teams in the poll as Mount Olive and previously top-ranked Pfeiffer dropped to No. 2. Salem International, one of three West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams ranked in the top 10, takes over the No. 1 spot. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has five teams ranked in the top 10 this week.

The conference champions from the CVAC, PSAC and WVIAC earn bids to the NCAA II East Regional in March, along with the top five at-large teams.

The regional poll will be announced each Wednesday through March 2.

Mount Olive has two regular season games left before the CVAC Tournament begins Monday. The Trojans have clinched a first-round bye in the tournament and will host a quarterfinal-round game Wednesday.

Mount Olive returns to action Thursday as the Trojans travel to Laurinburg to face St. Andrews in a CVAC match-up. An audio webcast of the game will be available on the Mount Olive College athletics Web site (www.moc.edu/athletics).

Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.