The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team is holding down the No. 1 spot in the NCAA Central Region rankings released Wednesday.
The Bearcats (24-1 overall, 20-1 in-region) are looking to serve as the Central Region host for the fourth consecutive season. Northwest has won two of the last three NCAA Division II national championships (2017, 2019).
Northwest has scored regional victories this season over No. 3 Missouri Southern (W, 96-75, No. 4 Southern Nazarene (W, 100-88) and No. 7 Rogers State (W, 74-55). Northwest is set to take on Missouri Southern 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Bearcat Arena.
The 2020 Central Region Tournament will be held March 14 (first round, March 15 (second round) and March 17 (regional final).
CENTRAL REGIONAL RANKINGS
1 Northwest Missouri State
2 Southeastern Oklahoma State
3 Missouri Southern State
4 Southern Nazarene
5 Northern State
6 Minnesota Duluth
7 Rogers State
8 Oklahoma Baptist
9 Sioux Falls
10 Henderson State
--- Northwest Athletics ---