The college basketball season is in full swing as teams are getting near the end of their non-conference schedule before the calendar turns to January and conference play begins. Here are our updated Powerr Rankings based on games played through December 15.

Note: National rankings are courtesy of KenPom.com. Arrows denote change in power rankings since previous ranking.

1. Liberty #66 (10-1)
   no change

Liberty now has the nation’s 8th longest active winning streak at 7. The Flames haven’t lost since Nov. 16, a three-point overtime setback against FAU, the team’s only loss so far this season. Liberty is coming off wins at home over MVSU and North Carolina A&T and continues their homestand this week with two games.

This week: 12/17 vs St. Andrews, 12/21 vs UT Arlington

2. Louisiana Tech #102 (9-2)
   no change

After dropping their first two games of the season, preseason CUSA favorite Louisiana Tech has bounced back with wins over Louisiana and Georgia Southern. They have a big test Monday night at home against Grand Canyon.

This week: 12/16 vs Grand Canyon, 12/21 vs Rust

3. Western Kentucky #112 (7-3)
  2

After opening the season with consecutive losses to Wichita State and Grand Canyon, both by single digits, the Hilltoppers have won 7 of 8 with the only loss coming at Kentucky. Most recently, WKU defeated Murray State in overtime.

This week: 12/17 vs Seattle U, 12/21 vs Kentucky Wesleyan

4. UTEP #134 (6-3)
  2

After somewhat of a slow start to the season, last year’s CUSA runner-up, UTEP, seems to be figuring things out. They won three straight to close out November and open December, including an impressive 16-point win over a good Seattle U squad. This past week, they nearly knocked off Louisville on the road, leading most of the way, before falling by three when a three-point attempt to send the game into overtime missed.

This week: 12/16 vs Tarleton State, 12/20 vs Jackson State

5. Kennesaw State #169 (7-3)
  1

The Owls have only played one game so far this season, knocking off in-state foe Georgia State on the road, 81-77, on Dec. 6. Kennesaw now hits the road to the West Coast for a couple of games before concluding their non-conference slate at home against non-Division I foe Brewton Parker on Dec. 29.

This week: 12/18 @ Santa Clara, 12/21 @ San Jose State

6. Middle Tennessee #140 (7-3)
  3

The Blue Raiders dropped their only Division I game since our previous update, falling at Belmont, 82-79. Two good tests for MTSU, both at home, this week before finishing their non-conference on Dec. 23 at Tennessee.

This week: 12/16 vs Cal Baptist, 12/19 vs Lipscomb

7. New Mexico State #200 (4-6)
  2

The Aggies picked up a win over their in-state rival New Mexico in overtime, a nice win for NMSU. That came right after New Mexico State lost at home to Abilene Christian. They closed the week out with a 91-67 loss at Texas.

This week: 12/16 vs Southern Utah, 12/19 vs Northern New Mexico

8. Sam Houston #127 (5-5)
  1

The Bearkats lost at Indiana, 97-71, but then bounced back to pick up a win at home over Texas Southern, 87-71. A trip to play at Pitt is sandwiched between two non-Division I opponents to close out the non-conference portion of their schedule.

This week: 12/16 vs St. Thomas (TX), 12/21 @ Pitt

9. Jacksonville State #181 (6-4)
  1

The Gamecocks split their two games over the past week, losing at South Alabama, 76-74, and the en defeating Utah Valley, 70-66. Jax State plays at Missouri on Tuesday.

This week: 12/17 @ Missouri, 12/21 @ Eastern Kentucky

10. FIU #245 (4-6)
   no change

The Panthers picked up their second Division I win of the year over the weekend, taking care of Stetson, 81-72.

This week: 12/17 @ East Carolina, 12/21 vs IU Indianapolis