SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Spring Arbor University moved up to No. 5 in the latest edition of the NAIA DII Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, released by the national office on Tuesday.
The Cougars jumped three spots to land in the top-five for the first time since the 1997-98 season. Indiana Wesleyan University is the new No. 1 and Oklahoma Wesleyan University dropped to No. 2. Morningside (Iowa) and the College of Idaho round out the top-five.
Head coach Ryan Cottingham and the Cougars have won six straight games following their double overtime victory over Grace College on Tuesday night, and have won 10 of their last 11. The team currently sits alone at the top of the Crossroads League standings with a 10-1 record.
Spring Arbor ranks among the nation’s best in shooting this year. The Cougars rank 11th in overall field goal percentage (0.496) and 12th in three-point field goal percentage (0.404). Paul Marandet and Brandon Durnell are the team’s leading scorers, averaging more than 16 points per game while Marandet also leads the country in assists (156). SAU also boasts two of the nation’s top sharp-shooters in Tom Hamilton and Luke Barber. Hamilton is shooting 48.9 percent from behind the three-point line and Barber is shooting 47.8 percent. Jeff Beckman is the team’s best rebounder and ranks second in the Crossroads League with 8.7 rebounds per game.
Spring Arbor (20-3, 10-1 CL) hosts Huntington University (14-9, 4-7 CL) in the Hall of Fame game on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 3 p.m. At halftime of the contest against the Foresters, SAU will recognize its 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame induction class.