By, Gabriel Schray | JTV Sports | December 19th, 2018

Spring Arbor, Michigan– The Spring Arbor University men’s basketball team had a huge jump in the latest edition of the NAIA DII Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. They moved 14 spots to No. 9 in the rankings.

The Cougars’ No. 9 ranking marks the first time SAU has cracked the Top 10 since the 1997-98 season, and is the highest overall ranking for the program since opening that same season at No. 2.

Head coach Ryan Cottingham and his team are off to an unbelievable 12-2 overall record to open the season. They’re also at first place in the Crossroads League standings. SAU is 4-1 against teams ranked or receiving votes in the national poll this season.

Head Coach Ryan Cottingham joins JTV to discuss SAU Basketball:

The Cougars’ rank 10th in the NAIA in field goal percentage, shooting at a 51 percent clip this season, including 40 percent from three-point range – the 12th-best mark in the country.

Paul Marandet and Brandon Durnell are putting on an offensive clinic, averaging more than 16 points per game apiece. Marandet is also dishing out 6.9 assists per night, which ranks third in the NAIA.

Luke Barber and Tom Hamilton- two of the top three-point shooters in country right now, are both scoring more than 11 points per game. Junior forward Jeff Beckman is one of the league’s top rebounders, hauling in 8.3 rebounds per game.

#JTVSports #JacksonMi #MichiganBasketball

Connect with JTV Sports’ Gabriel Schray: