AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State is ranked first in the initial South Atlantic Region poll of the 2007-08 regular season, released Wednesday afternoon by the NCAA.

The Jaguars are one of four Peach Belt Conference schools to appear in the first regional rankings, joining USC Aiken, Georgia College & State and Armstrong Atlantic State. The Jags own a 4-1 record against the other teams in the poll.

The top eight teams in the final South Atlantic Regional poll of the regular season will earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

“We’ve played some quality opponents and we’ve been fortunate enough to play well against them for the most part,” said ASU head coach Dip Metress. “It’s nice to be recognized, but we won’t get caught up too much in it all. We’ve got a long way to go and there’s a lot that can happen during the rest of the regular season.”

The Jags currently sit at 13-4 overall and 8-2 in the Peach Belt Conference. They had a seven-game winning streak snapped in a 75-71 loss at home to North Georgia on Monday, Jan. 28.

ASU travels to Milledgeville, Ga., to square off with GCSU in a key PBC matchup on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Centennial Center.

NCAA Men’s Basketball
South Atlantic Region Poll
(records are through Sunday, January 27) 

                        Overall Record       Region Record


1. AUGUSTA STATE              13-3            13-2
2. USC Aiken                  15-2            15-1
3. Virginia Union             13-3            11-3
4. Wingate                    13-3            11-3
5. Lenoir-Rhyne               13-3            12-3
6. Carson-Newman              12-2            12-2
7. GCSU                       10-4            10-4
8. Saint Augustine’s          11-3            11-3
9. Armstrong Atlantic         11-5            11-5
10. Bowie State               11-6            11-6