KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Another week and another Top 10 ranking for the West Liberty University men’s basketball team.
Coach Ben Howlett’s Hilltoppers (11-1) checked in at No. 8 for the second consecutive week on Tuesday afternoon when the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) released the sixth NCAA Division II weekly poll of the 2021-22 regular season. It marked the 158thTop 10 ranking all-time for the WLU program and the 194thTop 25 appearance for the Black and Gold.
West Liberty rolled to its seventh straight win on Monday, coasting past Bowie State (Md.), 108-85, in the Hilltoppers’ final non-conference test of the season.
Lubbock Christian (12-0) stayed locked in at No. 1 this week despite having both of its games postponed due to COVID-19 issues while defending national champion Northwest Missouri State (12-1) won its only game to hang onto the No. 2 spot. Three unbeaten – Nova Southeastern (12-0), Chico State (10-0) and Minnesota-Duluth (14-0) – completed the Top 5.
Cal State-San Bernardino (10-1), Mercyhurst (10-1) and the Hilltoppers occupied the Nos. 6-8 spot for the second straight week with Cal State-San Marcos (10-0) and Indiana, Pa. (9-1) rounding out the Top 10.
West Liberty wasn’t the only MEC program gaining national attention. Fairmont State (9-2) moved up one spot to No. 23 while Charleston (9-2) is once again listed among teams also receiving votes.
Mountain East Conference action resumes on Wednesday when the Hilltoppers host Concord in a 7:30 p.m. game inside the ASRC.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
NCAA Division II Top 25
(January 4, 2022)
Team (FPV) Rec Pts Pvs
1. Lubbock Christian, Texas (13) 12-0 395 1
2. NW Missouri State (2) 12-1 386 2
3. Nova Southeastern, Fla. (1) 12-0 370 4
4. Chico State, Calif. 10-0 348 5
5. Minnesota-Duluth 14-0 324 9
6. Cal State-San Bernardino 10-1 314 6
7. Mercyhurst, Pa. 10-1 289 7
8. WEST LIBERTY 10-1 283 8
9. Cal State-San Marcos 10-0 270 11
10. Indiana, Pa. 9-1 256 10
11. West Texas A&M 14-2 252 3
12. Augusta, Ga. 10-1 224 12
13. Dominican, N.Y. 9-1 202 14
14. Queens, N.C. 11-2 173 16
15. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. 10-2 162 17
16. Truman State, Mo. 9-2 132 19
17. Regis, Colo. 10-1 124 20
18. Barry, Fla. 9-2 115 15
19. Upper Iowa 12-2 95 13
20. Hillsdale, Mich. 9-2 91 21
21. Georgia College 10-1 86 25
22. Embry-Riddle, Fla. 11-3 53 18
23. FAIRMONT STATE 9-2 46 24
24. UNC Pembroke 9-1 41 NR
25. Flagler, Fla. 9-2 35 NR
Others receiving votes: Texas A&M-Commerce 23, Union (Tenn.) 19, Augustana (S.D.) 18, Ferris State (Mich.) 15, Fort Hays State (Kan.) 11, Central Oklahoma 10, West Florida 10, Angelo State (Texas) 8, MSU-Denver (Colo.) 6, Bentley (Mass.) 5, Texas-Tyler 4,CHARLESTON 2, Black Hills State (S.D.) 2, Emporia State (Kan.) 1.