The Northwest Missouri State Bearcat men's basketball team solidified its hold on the No. 1 spot in the NCAA Division II Central Region rankings on Wednesday.
The Bearcats (27-1 overall, 23-1 vs. Div. II opponents, 22-1 vs. Central Region foes) 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).
The 2020 Central Region Tournament will be held March 14 (first round, March 15 (second round) and March 17 (regional final). The top eight teams in each region will qualify for the 2020 NCAA Division II Tournament.
Northwest has secured victories this season over No. 2 Southern Nazarene (W, 100-88, No. 5 Rogers State (W, 74-55, No. 6 Missouri Southern (W, 96-75; W, 77-76).
The Bearcats will close out the regular season at home Thursday night against the Washburn Ichabods. Northwest will honor its three senior student-athletes (Tyler Dougherty, Kirk Finley, Ryan Welty) prior to the 7:30 p.m. tip in Bearcat Arena.
CENTRAL REGION RANKINGS D-II Record Region Record
1 Northwest Missouri State 23-1 22-1
2 Southern Nazarene 20-7 20-7
3 Southeastern Oklahoma State 18-7 17-6
4 Northern State 22-6 22-6
5 Rogers State 19-5 19-5
6 Missouri Southern State 16-7 16-6
7 Minnesota Duluth 20-8 19-8
8 Oklahoma Baptist 17-8 17-8
9 Henderson State 17-7 17-7
10 Sioux Falls 20-7 20-7
--- Northwest Athletics ---