[Men's Basketball] Surging MBB Falcons Make NAIA Top 25 Debut at No. 24

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Riding high with a current nine-game winning streak, their longest since the 2013-14 season, the Friends University Falcons have made the climb into the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' poll this week in the No. 24 spot.

"I'm not so sure we tapped quickest route on google maps but we found our way to the Top 25," Friends head coach Dale Faber said. "Now the challenge is to keep heading north. Coming back from break we thought we would have the opportunity to get in the rankings but definitely more challenges await."

The Falcons' streak has been notable, giving them sole possession of third place in the KCAC at 9-3 along with a 13-4 overall record.

During the win streak, the Falcons have knocked off three squads currently ranked in the Top 25 or the receiving votes category, including handing current No. 10-ranked Southwestern College their only loss of the season in Winfield, Kan.  (Side note: Southwestern gave current No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan University their first loss last night on the road).

The Falcons are coming off a 83-64 victory over Avila University last night, sparked by 37 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists from Jordan Murdock (SR/Wichita, Kan.), the second straight game he has flirted with a triple-double.  Murdock is averaging 29.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg and 5.3 apg to fuel the Falcons' nine consecutive victories.

Next up for the Falcons is a matchup at Sterling College Thursday night (Jan. 10), with tip-off set for 8 pm in Sterling, Kan. Friends bested Sterling 85-66 in the first meeting this season back on Nov. 14 inside the Garvey Center.

"I do believe the ranking is deserved, but being ranked six weeks from now is the trick," Faber said.