The Fort Hays State men’s basketball team moved up six spots in the latest set of national rankings, released on Tuesday night (Dec. 20). The Tigers move back into the Top 10 for the second time this year, this time at No. 9, their highest ranking of the season yet. Fort Hays State is 9-1 overall and resumes action on Monday, January 2 at Truman.

The Tigers benefitted from several teams in front of them in the polls losing last week, while they helped their cause by defeating previously unbeaten Northwest Missouri State this past Saturday. The Bearcats were receiving votes in the poll last week, but fell back off that list this week.

Missouri Southern, ranked No. 6 this week, and Fort Hays State continue to be the only representatives from the MIAA in the rankings. Only five teams in front of the Tigers remain undefeated on the season, but there are still four undefeated teams behind the Tigers in the polls. Metro State retained the No. 1 ranking this week at 10-0 overall, trailed by Southern Indiana, Lincoln Memorial, and Kentucky Wesleyan, which all are undefeated as well.

The next poll will be released on Tuesday, January 3, due to inactivity of schools throughout the holiday week.

Below is the latest Top 25 poll…

NABC Division II Men’s Basketball Poll (Dec. 20)

1. Metropolitan State (Colo.) (10-0)
2. Southern Indiana (9-0)
3. Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) (12-0)
4. Kentucky Wesleyan (9-0)
5. Bellarmine (Ky.) (9-1)
6. Missouri Southern (11-1)
7. West Liberty (W.Va.) (10-1)
8. Cal Poly Pomona (6-0)
9. Fort Hays State (Kan.) (9-1)
10. Tarleton State (Texas) (9-1)
11. Winona State (Minn.) (10-1)
12. Colorado School of Mines (8-1)
13. Northern Kentucky (9-0)
14. Alabama-Huntsville (8-2)
15. Bowie State (Md.) (7-1)
16. Humboldt State (Calif.) (7-2)
17. Arkansas Tech (8-1)
18. Findlay (Ohio) (9-2)
19. Midwestern State (Texas) (9-0)
20. Alaska-Anchorage (7-2)
21. Minnesota State-Moorhead (9-0)
22. Augustana (S.D.) (8-2)
23. Indiana (Pa.) (7-2)
24. Benedict (S.C.) (3-1)
25. Winston-Salem State (N.C.) (7-0)

Others receiving votes: Western Washington 19, Georgia Southwestern 15, Rollins (Fla.) 14, South Carolina Aiken 13, Bentley (Mass.) 8, Southwestern Oklahoma State 8, Christian Brothers (Tenn.) 6, West Georgia 6, Hillsdale (Mich.) 5, Franklin Pierce (N.H.) 4, West Texas A&M 3.

Dropped out: Rollins (10), Georgia Southwestern (17).

– FHSU Sports Information –