AUSTIN, Texas — The National Association of Basketball Coaches released its latest NCAA Division II men's basketball national rankings Tuesday, listing St. Edward's at No. 14 following a seven-game winning streak.
The Hilltoppers enter the week at 23-5 overall and 12-5 in Lone Star Conference play after winning their final three home games of the regular season, including two dramatic finishes. St. Edward's defeated rival St. Mary's in the Battle of the Saints on a final-possession stand, outlasted Angelo State in overtime, and reached the century mark in a 100-point Senior Day victory over UT Permian Basin.
Senior forward JAMISON KAY was named Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Hilltoppers' late-season surge. Kay is averaging 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game in February while shooting 59.5 percent from the field.
Senior guard BLAKE NIELSEN continues to climb the program's all-time leaderboard, surpassing 1,300 career points and reaching 446 assists. Nielsen ranks 17th in scoring and second all-time in assists in St. Edward's history.
St. Edward's has three regular-season games remaining, beginning with a road matchup at Western New Mexico on Thursday, followed by Sul Ross on Saturday. The Hilltoppers close the regular season at St. Mary's on Feb. 26 before turning their focus to the Lone Star Conference Tournament, which begins March 5 in Frisco, Texas. Tickets are on sale now.
NABC Division II Coaches Poll (Feb. 17, 2026 – Regular Season Poll #12)
Record Points Previous
1. Nova Southeastern, Fla. (11) 20-1 394 1
2. Cal State East Bay (3) 24-0 380 2
3. Washburn, Kan. (2) 24-1 373 3
4. Daemen, N.Y. 26-1 350 4
5. Gannon, Pa. 22-2 337 6
6. West Liberty, W.Va. 21-3 318 7
7. Oklahoma Baptist 21-2 294 9
8. Anderson, S.C. 22-2 280 5
9. Eastern New Mexico 21-3 264 10
10. Lubbock Christian, Texas 22-4 246 11
11. Fairmont State, W.Va. 20-4 237 8
12. Michigan Tech 22-4 218 13
13. West Alabama 22-3 213 14
14. St. Edward's, Texas 23-4 179 15
15. Grand Valley State, Mich. 20-4 156 19
16. Palm Beach Atlantic, Fla. 21-4 141 12
17. Black Hills State, S.D. 20-4 131 20
18. Virginia Union 23-3 115 21
19. Walsh, Ohio 20-3 114 22
20. Ouachita Baptist, Ark. 20-4 80 16
21. Point Loma, Calif. 20-4 64 NR
22. Northern Michigan 21-5 61 17
23. Rockhurst, Mo. 19-5 43 NR
24. Saint Martin's, Wash. 19-5 40 18
25. Central Missouri 20-7 38 NR
Others receiving votes: St. Cloud State (Minn.) 34, DBU (Texas) 21, Felician (N.J.) 21, Indiana (Pa.) 17, McKendree (Ill.) 11, Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 8,
Western New Mexico 6, Missouri Western 5, Saint Anselm (N.H.) 4, West Florida 3, Bentley (Mass.) 2, Fort Hays State (Kan.) 2.
Dropped out: McKendree (23), Missouri S&T (24), Arkansas Fort Smith (25).
Records are through games of Feb. 15, 2026. The next poll will be released on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
