This is the first national recognition in five seasons for the program and comes after the Rams have started with a program's best 9-0 record following a 71-69 win over then-No. 16 ranked Arkansas-Fort Smith last Friday in Plano.

"Our players deserve the credit for any success we have had up to this point in the season," ASU head coach Chris Beard said. "Our six seniors have brought good leadership to our program and have helped establish an unselfish culture of competing and being accountable. As a team we would much rather be nationally ranked in March than in December, but we are proud of our players for the good start."

Angelo State has now been nationally ranked 10 times in program history. ASU's 1983-84 team was ranked five times throughout its season and maintains the highest ranking in program history at No. 13 in the Jan. 16, 1984 poll. ASU was ranked once in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons at No. 25, but dropped out the next week and were unable to get back into the rankings. The 2008-09 Rams were in the polls twice in their season, first at No. 25 on Dec. 16, 2008 and then No. 23 on Feb. 24, 2009.

The Rams, who are one of only 25 NCAA DII teams without a loss this season, began receiving voting points two weeks ago and earned 26 points last week to tie Alaska-Anchorage with 26 points which were the most for any team outside the NABC Top-25.

West Liberty (7-0) remains ranked No. 1 in the nation, while Bellarmine (7-0) is second and Drury (7-0) third. The Lone Star Conference is also represented by No. 11 Tarleton State (7-0) and No. 19 Midwestern State (6-2). UAFS fell out of the poll with its loss to the Rams.

"Our team continues to be a work in progress," Beard said. "We have a long way to go to be able to compete in the Lone Star Conference.  We recognize and accept the challenge."

ASU is statistically ranked sixth in NCAA DII play by limiting opponents to 36.7 percent shooting and are 11th with by shooting 52.1 percent from the field this season. The Rams have the 18th ranked scoring defense in the nation by holding opponents to 63.7 points per game are 51st nationally and second within the conference with an 11.9 scoring margin advantage.  
 

NABC Division II Coaches Poll (Dec. 17, 2013 – Poll #5)
	Record	Points	Pvs
1. West Liberty, W.Va. (13 first place votes)	7-0	394	1
2. Bellarmine, Ky. (2 first place votes)	7-0	380	2
3. Drury, Mo.	7-0	356	3
4. Florida Southern (1 first place vote)	10-0	348	4
5. Western Washington	7-0	334	5
6. Metropolitan State, Colo.	6-1	326	6
7. Indiana, Pa.	7-0	304	7
8. Dixie State, Utah	7-0	283	8
9. Southern Indiana	7-0	269	9
10. Montevallo, Ala.	8-0	245	10
11. Tarleton State	7-0	235	11
12. East Stroudsburg, Pa.	8-0	197	12
13. Livingstone, N.C.	5-0	168	13
14. Seattle Pacific, Wash.	9-2	166	14
15. Findlay, Ohio	6-1	165	15
16. Minnesota State	10-2	142	17
17. Colorado School of Mines	8-0	136	18
18. Georgia Southwestern	10-0	107	21
19. Midwestern State	6-2	90	19
20. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn.	7-1	80	20
21. Indianapolis, Ind.	6-0	67	23
22. Angelo State	9-0	56	NR
23. Franklin Pierce, N.H.	11-1	45	24
24. North Alabama	7-2	32	25
25. Valdosta State, Ga.	7-0	31	NR
Dropped out: Arkansas-Fort Smith (16), North Carolina-Pembroke (22).
Others receiving votes: Arkansas-Fort Smith 28, Chico State (Calif.) 28, Central Missouri 25, Alaska-Anchorage 21, Lewis (Ill.) 18, Delta State (Miss.) 17, Cal State-San Bernardino 16, South Carolina Aiken 16, California Baptist 15, Northeastern State (Okla.) 11, Shepherd (W.Va.) 9, Florida Tech 8, Cal State-L.A. 7, Lake Superior State (Mich.) 5, Winona State (Minn.) 4, St. Mary's (Texas) 3, Wingate (S.C.) 3, North Carolina-Pembroke 1, Truman State (Mo.) 1.
Records are through games of Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013.