No. 3 CSM Moves To Top Of Central Region Rankings

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Consecutive wins over the weekend coupled with a loss by last week's top-ranked team has allowed the third-ranked Colorado Mines men's basketball squad to move into the top spot in this week's NCAA Division II Central Region rankings, which were released on Wednesday. 

Colorado Mines (22-2, 18-2 RMAC) clinched the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season title for the second time in as many seasons with an 86-48 victory over Adams State on Saturday in Golden, and this week finds itself in the driver's seat for the right to host the Central Region tournament. 

This is the first time in the history of the Colorado Mines men's basketball program that it has held down the top spot in the region rankings. Also this week, CSM moved up to No. 3 in the national poll, setting a new program best. Mines also tied the school record for conference wins in a season (18) with its win over the Grizzlies this past weekend, and sits just three wins shy of tying the school record for overall wins in a season (25) - set by last year's team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The top eight teams in the 28-team region will advance to the NCAA region tournament on Mar. 10-13. Automatic bids are granted to the winners of the RMAC and NSIC postseason tournaments, with the remaining six spots awarded on an at-large basis.

The Orediggers will open up their postseason play on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. when they host a first round game of the RMAC Shootout at Lockridge Arena in Golden against a team that is yet to be decided. All CSM students that want to attend will receive free admission with a valid BlasterCard. Should the CSM men's or women's basketball squads advance to the RMAC Shootout semifinal round and championship games in Pueblo on Friday and Saturday, all CSM students will receive free tickets courtesy of the Colorado School of Mines. One or both of the CSM basketball teams must be playing in a given round to receive free admission.

CSM will find out if it will host the regional tournament on Sunday, March 4, at 8:30 p.m. during the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Selection Show, which will be streamed live on NCAA.com.  Links to the video are not available at this time, but stay tuned to CSMOrediggers.com for the latest information on the basketball postseason updates, schedules and results.

Central Region Rankings - Feb. 22, 2012