Brandone Francis of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball during the game against the Iowa State Cyclones on February 7, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Iowa State 76-58. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) …
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Virginia has climbed to No. 1 in the AP men's basketball poll for the first time in more than 35 years.
The Cavaliers earned 30 of 65 first-place votes in Monday's latest poll to outdistance No. 2 Michigan State. Virginia had suffered an overtime home loss Saturday to Virginia Tech, part of an upset-filled week that saw the top three teams lose.
But Tony Bennett's Cavaliers rose above the turmoil at the top, climbing a slot to No. 1 for the first time since December 1982 - the senior season of 7-foot-4 great Ralph Sampson.
The Spartans climbed two slots after their win against Purdue, while last week's No. 1 Villanova fell to third after a home loss to St. John's.
Xavier and Cincinnati rounded out the top five.
Record Pts Pvs
1. Virginia (30) 23-2 1,557 2
2. Michigan St. (21) 24-3 1,527 4
3. Villanova (9) 23-2 1,518 1
4. Xavier (5) 23-3 1,465 5
5. Cincinnati 23-2 1,359 6
6. Purdue 23-4 1,269 3
7. Texas Tech 21-4 1,258 7
8. Ohio St. 22-5 1,094 14
9. Gonzaga 23-4 1,063 12
10. Auburn 22-3 1,025 8
11. Clemson 20-4 945 16
12. Duke 20-5 942 9
13. Kansas 19-6 816 10
14. North Carolina 19-7 763 21
15. Saint Mary's (Cal) 24-3 683 11
16. Rhode Island 20-3 666 18
17. Arizona 20-6 594 13
18. Tennessee 18-6 580 15
19. Wichita St. 19-5 495 22
20. West Virginia 18-7 339 19
21. Texas A&M 17-8 241 -
22. Michigan 20-7 239 20
23. Oklahoma 16-8 152 17
24. Nevada 21-5 87 23
25. Arizona St 19-6 83 -
Others receiving votes: New Mexico St. 66, Florida 48, Creighton 44, Butler 43, Virginia Tech 29, Middle Tennessee 26, Alabama 22, Houston 16, Nebraska 15, Missouri 14, Miami 10, Kentucky 8, TCU 8, ETSU 5, Oklahoma St. 4, St. Bonaventure 3, Louisville 2, Vermont 1, Florida St. 1.
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