The Sugar Bears' strongest Division-I start has gained UCA some early national recognition as the Sugar Bears make their debut in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll, entering at No. 24.

A total of 234 Division I teams from 22 of the 32 D-I conferences, plus Independents, are eligible for the poll. The ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, SEC, and Pac 12, along with the Atlantic 10, Conference USA, Mountain West and WAC are excluded from consideration.

The ranking comes shortly after the Sugar Bears climbed all the way to No. 1 in the nation in the Daily RPI figures by RealTimeRPI.com. As of Wednesday night, UCA was No. 5 behind Michigan, Virginia, Baylor and Texas A&M.

The Sugar Bears will look to continue their winning ways this weekend in Lubbock, Texas at the Basketball Travelers World Vision Classic at Texas Tech's United Spirit Arena. UCA will play three games in three days, beginning with ULM on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by No. 19 Texas Tech on Saturday at 1 p.m. before finishing up with UMKC on Sunday at Noon.

Due to conflict with the UCA Division I football playoffs 1st Round game at Tennesse Tech, Saturday's game vs. the Lady Raiders will be broadcast exclusively online. All other games will be broadcast on 91.3 FM The Bear in addition to the online stream.

THE TEAMS:
ULM Warhawks - 0-4
L 58-68 vs. Stephen F. Austin
L 45-62 at Tulane
L 68-70 at Lamar
L 71-75 at Grambling State

No. 19 Texas Tech - 2-0
W 69-43 vs. New Mexico
W 88-58 vs. Houston

UMKC - 3-1
W 95-72 vs. Northwest Missouri St.
W 92-45 vs. Houston Baptist
L 70-78 vs. VCU
W 100-63 vs. North Florida


SERIES RECORDS:
- First meeting vs. ULM & Texas Tech
- UMKC leads series 3-2, teams are 1-1 as Division I members
(UCA W 74-62, Kansas City, Mo., 12/20/06;
UMKC W 73-63, Conway, Ark.; 11/9/07)

ON THE ROAD
This weekend the Sugar Bears will be playing their first games
this season away from the Farris Center. They are 12-12 in road
games the previous two seasons, and were 3-2 in neutral site
games last season with wins over Houston Baptist, Lamar and
Stephen F. Austin, and losses to Norfolk State and McNeese
State.

SUGAR BEARS > 50
The Sugar Bears have held three straight opponents to less than
50 points (Alabama & Indiana 46; Paul Quinn 35), the first time in
their Division I history to do so. The last time a Sugar Bear team
did so was Dec. 6-14, 2002 against Mississippi Univ. for Women
(80-38), West Florida (69-47) and Lyon (86-41). UCA has not
held four straight to fewer than 50 since re-starting its program
for the 1976-77 season.

MAJOR WINS
The Sugar Bears’ victories over Indiana and Alabama marked the
fi rst time that UCA had defeated teams from major conferences
such as the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference. UCA has still
yet to defeat a Big 12 team, losing by an average of 62.3 points
in their previous three matchups (all against ranked opponents).
The Sugar Bears will also be playing their fi rst game against a Sun
Belt Conference foe since moving to Division I. UCA has a 29-13
all-time record against current SBC members Arkansas State and
Arkansas-Little Rock, but hasn’t played either one since 1987.

FAST START
The Sugar Bears are off to the fi rst 3-0 start in their brief
Division I history, and fi rst since the ‘02-’03 season when they
started 12-0. Last season it took the Sugar Bears seven games to
get their third win.

LINE DRILL
The Sugar Bears have held a lopsided advantage at both the
3-point and free throw line so far this season. Through their fi rst
three games, the Sugar Bears had outscored their opponents 63-
12 on 3-point shots and 41-9 at the free throw line.