Dec. 19, 2005

CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago's men's basketball team (7-1) is ranked No. 22 in the latest Mid-Major Top 25 Poll released today by College Insider. The Ramblers head into this week's action winners of three straight games and are off to their best start since 1965.

A panel of coaches from Mid-Major conferences votes each week during the season for the Top 25 Poll. The Ramblers are ranked ahead of Drexel, Montana and South Alabama. UW-Milwaukee, at No. 15, is the only other Horizon League team represented in the poll, while Northern Iowa, which handed Loyola its only loss of the season, is ranked No. 2 behind Gonzaga.

The Mid-Major Poll is made up of teams from the following conferences: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Continent, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Sun Belt, West Coast.

Loyola is back in action when it takes on San Diego on the west coast on Dec. 20.