KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Christian men's basketball team will head into the final weekend of regular season play as the new No. 1 team in the NAIA as the Evangels moved into the top spot of the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll on Wednesday.

Currently possessing the best record in the NAIA, it is the first time Mid-America Christian (27-1, 17-1 Sooner Athletic Conference) has held the top spot since being rated as the preseason No. 1 prior to the start of the 2016-17 campaign after defeating Georgetown (Ky.) 100-99 in the NAIA National Championship on Mar. 22, 2016.

Not only have the Evangels pieced together the overall best record in the NAIA, but they've done so against some of the toughest competition. MACU possesses a 6-1 record against teams ranked in the NAIA Top 25, including a pair of teams currently ranked in the Top 10 in No. 3 LSU-Shreveport and No. 9 John Brown.

The Evangels have also defeated Southwestern Assemblies of God, who is currently ranked No. 13 twice, No. 24 Texas Wesleyan twice, as well as Wayland Baptist, who is receiving votes but was No. 9 the first time they played back on Jan. 9.

Mid-America Christian's only loss of the season came at No. 9 John Brown on Jan. 30. However, the silver lining in that tough road loss is that the Golden Eagles, along with MACU are one of four teams undefeated at home in the NAIA, along with LSU-Shreveport and Central Baptist (Ark.).

Currently, the Evangels hold a one-game lead over John Brown at the top of the Sooner Athletic Conference standings with just two games left in the regular season. If MACU can top Central Christian on Tuesday night inside the Gaulke Activity Center, the Evangels will finish with a perfect regular season home record as well as lock up at least a share of the SAC title.

Mid-America Christian will square off against the Tigers at 7:45 p.m. inside Gaulke Activity Center on Thursday, Feb. 27.