KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Pikeville continues to rise up the rankings in the NAIA and has reached the Top 10.
 
On Wednesday morning, the Bears learned they are now No. 10 in the latest poll. Two weeks ago, they were ranked 13^th in the country.
 
UPike is 20-3 on the season and has won 19 of its last 20 games. The Bears are also 13-1 in the AAC heading into tonight's game at Bluefield (Va.) University.
 
Two keys to the season for the Bears have been taking care of the basketball and success at the free throw line. UPike currently is tied for the fewest turnovers in the country at 9.1 per game.
 
Additionally, the Bears are leading the country from the line, hitting 82.4 percent (384 for 466).
 
A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll. The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:

• 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
• The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
• Teams receiving only one point are not listed as "receiving votes."

 
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University is the new No. 1 team in the country, getting all 18 first-place votes. Grace (Ind.) slipped to second, with Indiana Wesleyan, Ava Maria (Fla.) and Oklahoma Wesleyan rounding out the Top 5.
 
Hope International (Calif.) and Nelson (Texas) are tied for sixth, with Langston (Okla.) and Keiser (Fla.) are immediately in front of UPike.
 
After tonight's game at Bluefield, the Bears will travel to Reinhardt (Ga.) on Saturday. They return home on Monday, hosting Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) at the UPike Gym. The final road game of the regular season comes next Wednesday night when they visit Union Commonwealth.
 
The regular season ends a week from Saturday when the Bears entertain Montreat (N.C.) at the Appalachian Wireless Arena.