PROVO, Utah-Monday, BYU men’s basketball entered The Associated Press’ Top 25 for the first time this season, coming in at No. 23 for the week of February 17.

This commemorates the first time the Cougars have been ranked since achieving a No. 10 ranking in the final poll from the 2010-11 season.

In his first year at the helm of the program, Mark Pope has posted a record of 21-7 (.750) and has the Cougars at second place in the West Coast Conference at 10-3 in league games.

Presently, BYU leads the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (304-714, 42.6 percent) and is second in 3-point field goals per game (10.9 per game, North Florida leads the nation with 11.6 3-pointers per game).

The Cougars also rank third nationally in field-goal percentage (50.2 percent), assists per game (17.7) and assists-to-turnovers ratio (1.58).

BYU returns to action Thursday to host Santa Clara at the Marriott Center followed by a huge home game Saturday against Gonzaga.

The game against the Bulldogs will be Senior Night. Those Cougars to be honored include forward Yoeli Childs, guard TJ Haws, guard Taylor Maughan, forward Dalton Nixon, guard Zac Seljaas, guard Jake Toolson and guard Evan Troy.