SAC Places Three Men’s Basketball Teams In Region Poll

INDIANAPOLIS - Three South Atlantic Conference teams are ranked in the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball southeast regional poll released January 28, 2009. Catawba, Newberry, and Tusculum lead the way for the conference.

Catawba is ranked fifth with their 13-5 overall record and lead the league with a 5-2 record. Newberry is ranked ninth with a 15-4 overall record and are second in league play with a 5-2 record after recent wins against Catawba and Brevard. Tusculum comes in tenth in the new poll with a 13-6 overall record and are tied with Newberry at 5-2 in conference play and are coming off a close win against league foe Mars Hill on Wednesday night.

The ranking is the first in school history for the Newberry men's team. Newberry's 15 regular season wins thus far is the most since Newberry joined Division II in the early 1990s.

The Peach Belt Conference holds six of the top eight spots, led by Augusta State in first place. Conference Carolinas has one team in the top 10.

The NCAA releases the regional rankings every week through March 4th. Eight teams from the region, including an automatic qualifier from each conference, will advance to the NCAA Tournament in March.

SOUTHEAST

Division II Division II
Overall Record In-Region Record
1. Augusta St. 14-3 13-2
2. Georgia College 12-2 11-2
3. Armstrong Atlantic 12-2 10-2
4. S.C.-Aiken 11-4 11-3
5. Catawba 12-4 10-4
6. Barton 12-4 12-4
7. Clayton St. 6-5 6-5
8. North Georgia 7-7 7-7
9. Newberry 11-4 11-4
10. Tusculum 12-6 9-6