Belton (February 6, 2012) -- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team climbed one spot on the back of two solid road wins as the Cru climbed to #8 in the country in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll. The UMHB men totaled 451 points to move up one spot from ninth in the poll this week. Hope College took over the #1 spot in this week’s ranking with 15 first-place votes and 606 total points. The Cru is the only American Southwest Conference program mentioned in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll.

The Cru is currently 20-1 overall and has a 16-1 mark in ASC play this season. UMHB posted road wins over Howard Payne University and Sul Ross State University last week. The Cru will return to action with three straight home games, a stretch starting with a 7:30 PM tip-off against Hardin-Simmons University on Thursday at the Mayborn Campus Center. UMHB needs just one more win to clinch the ASC West Division title and earn the right to host the ASC Championship Tournament for the third time in the last five seasons.

The D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country. The UMHB men have been ranked in every D3hoops.com poll this season.