FHSU Sports Information Department
INDIANAPOLIS – Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball remained No. 4 in the latest NCAA Central Region Rankings, released on Wednesday (Mar. 2). The Tigers have been ranked No. 4 in all four releases of the rankings and they enter MIAA Tournament play this weekend in Kansas City.
Fort Hays State is among a cluster of teams fighting for the final five selections to the NCAA Tournament in the Central Region. The top three ranked teams are fairly safe in earning bids to the tournament, but there is plenty of volatility to the No. 4 through No. 10 ranking. Despite losing once last week, the Tigers stayed on top of the final seven teams referenced in the poll since all but last week’s No. 9 team lost as well.
The Tigers face Central Oklahoma in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament on Friday. Should they advance, they could potentially play either Northwest Missouri State or Lindenwood in the semifinals. Northwest Missouri State is the No. 2 ranked team in the region.
Below are the Central Region Rankings for March 2.
| Rank | School | Overall DII Record | In-Region Record |
| 1 | Augustana (SD) | 24-2 | 24-2 |
| 2 | Northwest Mo. St. | 20-5 | 20-5 |
| 3 | MSU Moorhead | 25-4 | 23-3 |
| 4 | Fort Hays State | 16-9 | 16-9 |
| 5 | Minn. St. Mankato | 17-9 | 17-9 |
| 6 | Neb.-Kearney | 17-10 | 17-10 |
| 7 | Harding | 18-9 | 18-9 |
| 8 | East Central | 20-7 | 20-7 |
| 9 | Mo. Southern St. | 17-11 | 17-11 |
| 10 | Pittsburg St. | 16-12 | 16-12 |