AUSTIN, Texas — The National Association of Basketball Coaches revealed its latest weekly NCAA Division II national rankings, listing the St. Edward's men's basketball team (15-3) as No. 18 after the Hilltoppers split last week's games against nationally-ranked West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico.
St. Edward's remains the top-ranked field goal percentage defense and assist-to-turnover ratio offense in the Lone Star Conference, and the fifth-ranked scoring offense.
BLAKE NIELSEN leads the team, averaging 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
RYDER BRADLEY (13.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game) and
JAMISON KAY (11.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game) also average double figures.
The Hilltoppers are 3-2 this season against nationally-ranked opponents, and are one of five nationally-ranked teams in the Lone Star Conference. St. Edward's hosts UT Tyler on Thursday and No. 25-ranked DBU on Saturday.
NABC Division II Coaches Poll (Jan. 13, 2026 – Regular Season Poll #7)
Record Points Previous
1. Washburn, Kan. (16) 16-0 400 1
2. Daemen, N.Y. 18-0 382 2
3. Nova Southeastern, Fla. 11-1 365 3
4. Anderson, S.C. 14-0 344 4
5. Lubbock Christian, Texas 15-2 321 6
6. Palm Beach Atlantic, Fla. 14-1 315 8
7. Cal State East Bay 14-0 302 10
8. Michigan Tech 14-2 264 12
9. West Alabama 15-1 251 14
10. North Georgia 11-2 224 15
11. Arkansas Fort Smith 13-2 219 5
12. Missouri S&T 11-2 208 16
13. Gannon, Pa. 13-2 203 9
14. Southern Nazarene, Okla. 12-2 202 7
15. Black Hills State, S.D. 12-2 164 11
16. West Texas A&M 14-3 148 20
17. Saint Martin's, Wash. 13-2 128 22
18. St. Edward's, Texas 15-3 114 17
19. West Liberty, W.Va. 10-3 113 13
20. Northern Michigan 13-2 111 18
21. Lenoir-Rhyne, N.C. 13-3 100 24
22. Upper Iowa 12-2 74 25
23. Fairmont State, W.Va. 11-3 48 NR
24. Eastern New Mexico 12-3 28 19
25. DBU, Texas 13-4 26 NR
Others receiving votes: Virginia Union 21, Oklahoma Baptist 19, West Florida 17, St. Mary's (Texas) 16, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 9, Catawba (N.C.) 8, Walsh (Ohio) 8, Miles (Ala.) 7, Point Loma (Calif.) 7, Saint Anselm (N.H.) 7, Florida Southern 5, California (Pa.) 3, McKendree (Ill.) 3, Grand Valley State, (Mich.) 2, Indiana (Pa.) 2, Montana State Billings 1.
Dropped out: Virginia Union (21), St. Mary's (23).
