D2SIDA Men's Basketball Top-25 Poll - Jan. 26, 2021
D2SIDA Men's Basketball West Region Poll - Jan. 25, 2021

NAMPA, Idaho - The nation is starting to take notice. After starting the season 6-1, Northwest Nazarene men's basketball has made an appearance in the Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) poll this week with a No. 21 ranking.

The Nighthawks were on the precipice of the top-25 last week, earning 20 points to rank 30th. Fresh off their three-game sweep of Western New Mexico last weekend, NNU garnered 72 points this week to vault up to 21st. 

Northwest Missouri State leads the rankings, followed by Lincoln Memorial, Colorado Mines, Truman State, and West Texas A&M.

NNU is the lone GNAC school in the poll, while Point Loma is the only other West Region member to crack the top-25. The Sea Lions slotted in 10th, and are responsible for the Nighthawks' only loss of the season. Fellow West Region member Azusa Pacific is also receiving votes this week.

The Nighthawks are also second in the West Region poll, trailing only PLNU.

Ezekiel Alley leads the Nighthawks through seven games with an average of 17.7 points per contest. The senior has also already claimed two GNAC Player of the Week honors in the early going. George Reidy is next with 12.0 points per game, followed by James Nelson with 9.1 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game.

NNU will hit the road for their next two contests, visiting Saint Martin's this Friday and Saturday.