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

The Jaguars and USC Aiken, along with Georgia College & State, make up the Peach Belt Conference representation in the poll. USCA is ranked second while Georgia College & State, who fell out of the poll last week, returned to the rankings at No. 10.

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

The Jags took a 17-4 overall record and 12-2 Peach Belt Conference mark into Wednesday’s league tilt at Lander’s Finis Horne Arena in Greenwood, S.C.

NCAA South Atlantic Region Poll
(records are through Sunday, February 10) 

                            Overall Record      Region Record

1.   AUGUSTA STATE               17-3            17-3
2.   USC Aiken                   19-2            19-1
3.   Lenoir-Rhyne                17-3            16-3
4.   Wingate                     15-4            13-4
5.   Carson-Newman               16-2            16-2
6.   Elizabeth City State        14-4            14-4
7.   Virginia Union              16-5            14-5
8.   Bowie State                 14-7            14-7
9.   Saint Augustine’s           12-6            12-6
10. Georgia College & State      12-6            12-6