Belton (February 8, 2012) -- The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s basketball team is ranked #1 in the South Region in the first NCAA Division III Regional Rankings of the season, released today. Virgina Wesleyan is second, Birmingham Southern is ranked third, Randolph-Macon is fourth, Christopher Newport holds down the fifth spot, Emory University is #6, Guilford College is #7 and UMHB’s American Southwest Conference rival Hardin-Simmons rounds out the rankings this week at #8. The NCAA Regional Rankings are used to determine selections and seedings for the NCAA Division III National Championships.

The Cru is currently 20-1 overall and 16-1 in ASC play on the season. UMHB needs just one win the final four regular season games 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 Cru will host Hardin-Simmons for a 7:30 PM tip-off tomorrow at the Mayborn Campus Center.