FROM STAFF REPORTS

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of Montevallo men’s basketball team is ranked No. 5 in the initial NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings released Feb. 17.

The region rankings will be released weekly for the next three weeks and the final region rankings will be released Sunday, March 6 and will determine the seeding for the eight teams that will make up the Southeast Region bracket in the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Falcons (16-7 overall, 12-4 in Peach Belt Conference) are looking for their eighth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament. Montevallo has advanced to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament in 10 of the past 12 seasons since coach Danny Young arrived at the University prior to the 2003-04 season.

Montevallo advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 for the eighth time in program history a year ago after capturing the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championships in the same year for the first time. The Falcons have advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 in four of the past six years, which included the program’s third trip to the Elite Eight and first appearance in the National Championship game during the 2011-12 season.

Montevallo, currently leading the overall conference standings, is one of four Peach Belt Conference teams ranked in the initial NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings.

Columbus State University, currently in a three-way tie with Lander University and Young Harris College for second overall in conference standings, is ranked one spot behind the Falcons at No. 6 in the region rankings. Georgia College is ranked No. 8 in the region rankings, while Lander rounds out the rankings at No. 10

Lincoln Memorial University, currently leading the South Atlantic Conference standings, is ranked No. 1 in the initial region rankings. Queens University, King University and Wingate University round out the top four teams in the rankings.

Lenior-Rhyne University is ranked No. 7 and the University of Mount Olive is ranked No. 9 in the region rankings.