KANSAS CITY – The University of Pikeville men's basketball team will enter the postseason on Thursday ranked sixth in the nation.
 
The most recent, and final, regular season poll was released on Wednesday morning, with UPike moving up four spots to No. 6. The Bears, and Rocky Mountain (Mont.), which moved up to No. 7, are the only teams in the rankings to move up as many as four spots.
 
UPike enters the AAC tournament on an eight-game winning streak, five of which have come in the two weeks since the latest poll. The Bears have also won 24 of their last 25 games.
 
Since the latest poll, UPike owns wins on the road against Bluefield (Va.), Reinhardt (Ga.) and Union Commonwealth. It also has defeated Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) and Montreat (N.C.) at home.
 
The Bears won those games by an average of 16.2 points per game.
 
UPike has a record of 25-3 on the season and has won 24 of its last 25 outings. The Bears lead the nation in free throw shooting, having hit 80.6 percent this season, and averages only 8.8 turnovers per game, also the best in the country.
 
The Bears' average margin of victory this season is 14.9 points per game.
 
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) remains atop the national poll unanimously with a record of 27-1. Grace (Ind.), Oklahoma Wesleyan, Indiana Wesleyan and Nelson (Texas) round out the Top 5.
 
UPike and Rocky Mountain are followed by Home International (Calif.), Langston (Okla.) and Ave Maria (Fla.) in the Top 10.
 
Two teams the Bears played earlier this season are in the Top 25. Cumberlands, which UPike beat in December, is No. 18, while Huntington (Ind.), one of three teams to beat UPike, is 22^nd.
 
UPike will open postseason play on Thursday morning at 10:15 a.m. against the winner of Wednesday's game between Bryan (Tenn.) and Truett McConnell (Ga.). The AAC tournament is held at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort and Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn.