By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Northwest Missouri State men's basketball team has returned to the No. 1 spot in the latest NABC Division II Top 25 Poll released Tuesday.
It marks the 39th time in program history Northwest has ascended to the No. 1 ranking. The Bearcats were ranked No. 1 earlier this season before falling to then No. 5 Washburn, 84-82, in overtime on Jan. 7.
Northwest has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in five consecutive seasons. It also marks the 43rd straight week that Northwest has been ranked in the top five.
Northwest (19-1) moved its current win streak to 14 games in a row with an 88-85 overtime win at No. 15 Washburn Saturday.
The previous No. 1 and 2 teams in the nation, the Colorado School of Mines and Northern State, both suffered their first losses of the season last week, which also helped Northwest reclaim the top spot.
The Bearcats are home to Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The women's matchup will come first at 5:30 p.m.
The Bearcat women (7-12) are also home to Washburn on Tuesday afternoon at 5:30 p.m.
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