Trojan men exit top 25 poll

Published in Sports on February 11, 2004 2:00 PM

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MOC Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- Monday night, 20th-ranked Mount Olive defeated No. 3 Pfeiffer.

Tuesday morning, the Trojans fell out of the top 25 and Pfeiffer moved up to No. 2. Perhaps Division II Bulletin magazine could have waited until after Monday night's game to determine its poll.

After spending one week at No. 20, Mount Olive is again listed among "Others Receiving Consideration" in this week's NABC/Division II Bulletin Men's Basketball Top 25, it was announced Tuesday.

Mount Olive's No. 20 ranking last week was its first-ever top 25 appearance in school history. The Trojans have been included in the poll in each of the last four weeks. The top 25 poll is based on results through Sunday and does not include the Trojans' dramatic 108-105 victory against Pfeiffer Monday.

The new poll was announced the same day Marcus West's 80-foot buzzer-beater against Pfeiffer was shown on ESPN Sportscenter, ESPNEWS and CNN Headline News.

West launched a one-handed line-drive baseball pass from the right side of the backcourt, almost adjacent to the free throw line. The ball went through the basket just as the buzzer sounded. ESPN showed the play again in slow motion, freezing the play and putting its 'spotlight' on West, then cut to the mob of fans celebrating on the floor.

ESPN anchor Dan Patrick called the play, then segued to co-anchor Dana Jacobson, who remarked, "It's a good thing they practice that."

The game-winning shot also received airplay on the 6 p.m. sportscasts of several television stations throughout eastern North Carolina.

There is also a possibility that West's shot will be included among ESPN's "Plays of the Week" this Sunday on Sportscenter.

Mount Olive, 17-3 overall and 11-2 in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference, broke into the top 25 last week on the strength of its school-record 11-game winning streak.

The Trojans had both their overall winning streak and their 10-game home winning streak snapped Feb. 2 against Barton. They have won 14 of their last 15 games.

Mount Olive travels to Belmont Abbey for a crucial CVAC matchup Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.