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CITY, N.D. (VCSU) – The Valley City State University (N.D.) men’s basketball team moved up to No. 16 in the latest NAIA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll released Tuesday afternoon. 

VCSU moved up three spots on Tuesday from their No. 19 ranking in the previous poll back on Dec. 8. The Vikings have a 13-3 overall record and are 3-0 in the North Star Athletic Association. VCSU is 4-1 this season in games against ranked opponents. 

The North Star Athletic Association has two teams ranked inside the Top 25 and one team receiving votes in this week’s poll. VCSU is the top NSAA team at No. 16. Bellevue University is ranked No. 21, and the University of Jamestown is receiving votes in the poll. 

Indiana Wesleyan is the top-ranked team and received 11 out of 12 first-place votes. St. Francis (Ill.) is No. 2, followed by Marian (Ind.), Union (Ky.) and Davenport (Mich.) to round out the Top 5.

The No. 16 ranking is VCSU’s highest ranking since the 2012-13 season, when they were ranked as high as No. 15 and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 1986. VCSU was also ranked as high at No. 15 during the 2007-08 season when they started with a 15-3 record. 

The Viking men are on the road this weekend with the Viking women for two doubleheaders at the Johnson & Wales Classic in Denver, Colo. VCSU takes on Northern New Mexico on Friday, and then concludes the trip with games Saturday against Johnson & Wales.