UNI has returned to the national rankings in men's basketball, while Iowa State continues to move closer to the Top-10.

The Panthers (10-1) are ranked 23rd in this week's Associated Press Top-25 poll, released today (Monday, December 22, 2014). Iowa State (9-1) moved up one spot to No. 12 after being ranked 13th last week.

UNI and Iowa State both posted victories over in-state rivals at the Big 4 Classic in Des Moines on Saturday. The Panthers limited Iowa to just 15 second-half points while beating the Hawkeyes, 56-44, at Wells Fargo Arena. (To read the story on UNI's win over Iowa, click HERE.) Iowa State opened the doubleheader with an 83-54 route of Drake.

Iowa State Cyclones vs. Drake Bulldogs
Courtesy: David Purdy - Getty Images Sports
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While the Cyclones have been making a steady climb in the Top-25 national rankings, UNI is appearing in the AP poll  for the second time this season. The Panthers debuted at No. 23 in the December 8th survey after opening the season with nine-straight wins. They fell out of the rankings last week following a 93-87 double-overtime loss at Virginia Commonwealth (VCU) on December 13th.

UNI returns to action on Sunday (December 28), hosting South Dakota State at 2 p.m. Iowa State's next game is December 31st against Mississippi Valley State at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.


The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 21, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week's ranking:

TeamRecordPtsPrv
1. Kentucky (65)12-01,6251
2. Duke10-01,5482
3. Arizona12-01,5023
4. Louisville10-01,3444
5. Virginia11-01,3366
6. Wisconsin10-11,3225
7. Villanova11-01,2147
8. Gonzaga11-11,1708
9. Texas10-11,1499
10. Kansas9-11,09610
11. Wichita State8-196611
12. IOWA STATE9-182113
13. Washington10-079816
14. Utah8-279614
15. Maryland11-167817
16. Notre Dame11-153621
17. St. John's9-151720
18. West Virginia10-146422
19. Oklahoma7-343615
20. North Carolina8-341424
21. Ohio State9-241112
22. Baylor9-1203
23. NORTHERN IOWA10-1162
24. Colorado State11-0144
25. TCU11-0120

Others receiving votes: Georgetown 85, San Diego St. 72, VCU 70, California 32, Miami 27, Arkansas 22, Indiana 11, LSU 7, Old Dominion 7, Florida 4, Penn St. 4, Oklahoma St. 3, Seton Hall 3, Butler 2, Minnesota 2, Davidson 1, Valparaiso 1.

 

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