[Men's Basketball] Mount Mercy one of seven new teams in top 25

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mount Mercy, which won the first eight games of the season for the first time in school history, enters the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll at No. 14 in the first rating of the regular season, the NAIA announced on Monday.

The Mustangs received votes in the NAIA's preseason poll, which was released on Oct. 24. This is the highest ranking for Mount Mercy (8-1) since it reached No. 11 in the final regular season poll of the 1995-96 season. That was the year the Mustangs won 21 straight games during a run to their only conference title and national tournament berth.

Indiana Wesleyan took over the top spot in the poll for the first time in school history. Northwood (Fla.), Davenport (Mich.), Grace (Ind.) and Dordt round out the top five. Mount Mercy is the lone Midwest Collegiate Conference team in the top 25, sitting at No. 14 with 22 points. Clarke and Iowa Wesleyan are both receiving votes, with the Crusaders coming in at No. 28 with 52 points and the Tigers at No. 29 with 50 points.

The Mustangs open conference play this weekend, traveling to Des Moines to take on Grand View at 3:00 p.m. at Sisam Arena. Then they're home for MCC contests with William Penn on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. and Clarke on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 3:00 p.m. at Hennessey Recreation Center.