West Liberty Men Make History with No. 4 Ranking
Hilltoppers Only 3rd NCAA D2 Program to Earn 100 Top 5 AppearancesΒ
Β Β Β KANSAS CITY, Mo. β The West Liberty University menβs basketball team made history on Tuesday when the Mountain East Conference pace-setters moved up to No. 4 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) weekly NCAA Division Top 25.
Β Β Β That lofty ranking marked a significant milestone for Coach Ben Howlettβs Hilltoppers (20-2) as it was the 100th time West Liberty menβs basketball had been ranked among the Top 5 nationally. The Black and Gold joined Kentucky Wesleyan and Northwest Missouri State as the only current NCAA Division II programs with 100 or more Top 5 appearances since the first poll was released during the 1960-61 season.
Β Β Β Itβs also the 162nd Top 10 national ranking for the Hilltoppers, trailing only Kentucky Wesleyanβs record 258 Top 10 appearances on the all-time list, and the 199th time West Liberty has earned a Top 25 ranking β a number reached by only six other schools.
Β Β Β The Hilltoppers strengthened their hold on the top spot in the MEC standings last week with back-to-back impressive wins over two of their top challengers. West Liberty ended West Virginia Stateβs 10-game winning streak with a 96-84 victory on Wednesday before going down to Charleston on Saturday and completing a season sweep of the Golden Eagles by a 96-82 tally.
Β Β Β Nova Southeastern (20-0), the nationβs only remaining unbeaten squad, moved into the No. 1 spot this week after previous front-runner Lubbock Christian (20-1) suffered its first loss of the season, a 75-73 setback against Dallas Baptist. Northwest Missouri State (21-2) moved up to No. 2 with Lubbock Christian barely holding off the Hilltoppers for No. 3. UNC Pembroke (20-1) rounded out this weekβs Top 5.
Β Β Β Fairmont State (18-3), only a game back of WLU in the conference standings, moved up to No. 10 in this weekβs national rankings. Atlantic Region rivals Indiana, Pa. (19-2) and Mercyhurst (19-4) joined the Hilltoppers and Falcons in the poll at No. 7 and No. 20, respectively, with Pitt-Johnstown 19-4) joining the list of teams also receiving votes.
Β Β Β West Liberty returns to action on Wednesday when WLU hosts Glenville State in a 7:30 p.m. game inside the ASRC.
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MENβS BASKETBALL
NCAA Division II Top 25
(February 8, 2022)
Team (FPV)Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β RecΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β PtsΒ Β Β Β Β Β Pvs
Β 1. Nova Southeastern (16)Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 20-0Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 400Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 2
Β 2. NW Missouri StateΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 21-2Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 378Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 4
Β 3. Lubbock ChristianΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 20-1Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 356Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 1
Β 4. WEST LIBERTYΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 20-2Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 352Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 5
Β 5. UNC PembrokeΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 20-1Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 333Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 6
Β 6. Minnesota-DuluthΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 21-2Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 310Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 7
Β 7. Indiana, Pa.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 19-2Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 305Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 8
Β 8. CSU-San BernardinoΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 17-2Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 294Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 3
Β 9. Augustana, S.D.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 19-2Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 276Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 11
10. FAIRMONT STATEΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 18-3Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 260Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 12
11. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 18-3Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 218Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 14
12. Ferris State, Mich.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 18-3Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 211Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 15
13. Central OklahomaΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 19-3Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 204Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 16
14. Chico State, Calif.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 14-3Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 196Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 10
15. Queens, N.C.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 20-3Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 183Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 17
16. CSU-San MarcosΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 14-3Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 162Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 9
17. Flagler, Fla.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 18-3Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 139Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 21
18. Augusta, Ga.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 18-3Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 125Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 23
19. Upper IowaΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 20-4Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 100Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 19
20. Mercyhurst, Pa.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 19-4Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 88Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 25
21. Bentley, Mass.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 15-3Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 85Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 18
22. Union, Tenn.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 18-4Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 62Β Β Β Β Β Β Β NR
23. Regis, Colo.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 16-4Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 51Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 13
24. West Texas A&MΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 20-5Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 46Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 20
25. Dominican, N.Y.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 15-4Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 26Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 24
Β Β Β Β Others receiving votes: Daemen (N.Y.) 11, Barry (Fla.) 5, Hillsdale (Mich.) 5, Fort Hays State (Kan.) 4, Saint Anselm (N.H.) 4, West Alabama 4, Biola (Calif.) 2, Miles (Ala.) 2, Pitt-Johnstown (Pa.) 2, SE Oklahoma State 1.