BY FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
LILBURN, Ga. – After closing out the regular season with five consecutive wins, including three on the road, the Fort Hays State basketball team is once again recognized in the latest release of the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll, distributed Tuesday (March 3). The Tigers are receiving votes in this week’s release, picking up 25 points in the balloting process.
Fort Hays State has now been listed in 13 of the 15 polls released this season, climbing as high as No. 5 early in the season.
The Tigers are one of four MIAA schools and one of seven teams from the Central Region recognized in the latest poll. MIAA regular season champion Central Missouri is ranked 15th and Sioux Falls ranks 24th, while Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State and Southeastern Oklahoma State are all receiving votes.
Fort Hays State will open postseason play Friday (March 6) when the Tigers take on Pittsburg State in the MIAA Quarterfinals. First tip is slated for noon inside historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
| Rk. | Team (1st) | Rcd. | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1 | Drury (14) | 29-0 | 566 | 1 |
| 2 | Ashland (9) | 28-0 | 561 | 2 |
| 3 | Hawaii Pacific | 27-1 | 514 | 3 |
| 4 | Grand Valley State | 26-2 | 503 | 4 |
| 5 | Alaska Anchorage | 29-2 | 482 | 5 |
| 6 | Lubbock Christian | 25-3 | 449 | 6 |
| 7 | Indiana (Pa.) | 26-2 | 434 | 8 |
| 8 | Adelphi | 27-2 | 402 | 10 |
| 9 | Walsh | 25-2 | 360 | 11 |
| 10 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 26-2 | 344 | 6 |
| 11 | Lee (Tenn.) | 25-3 | 306 | 9 |
| 12 | Benedict | 24-3 | 299 | 15 |
| 13 | Azusa Pacific | 24-4 | 264 | 16 |
| 14 | University of the Sciences | 25-3 | 252 | 18 |
| 15 | Central Missouri | 24-4 | 225 | 19 |
| 16 | Virginia Union | 23-4 | 208 | 12 |
| 17 | Belmont Abbey | 26-2 | 186 | 20 |
| 18 | North Georgia | 24-4 | 170 | 13 |
| 19 | Tampa | 22-4 | 160 | 14 |
| 20 | Anderson (S.C.) | 24-4 | 147 | 21 |
| 21 | Kentucky Wesleyan | 26-2 | 127 | 17 |
| 22 | West Texas A&M | 26-5 | 96 | 25 |
| 23 | Lander | 23-5 | 71 | 22 |
| 24 | Sioux Falls | 26-5 | 60 | NR |
| 25 | Stonehill | 21-5 | 44 | NR |
| 25 | UC San Diego | 22-5 | 44 | 23 |
Dropped Out:
No. 24 Nebraska Kearney (25-5).
Receiving Votes:
Minnesota Duluth 38 (26-5); Nebraska Kearney 29 (25-5); Fort Hays State 25 (22-6);
Bowie State 21 (25-5); Emporia State 21 (22-6); Colorado Mesa 19 (23-5); Cal
State San Marcos 8 (23-4); Southeastern Oklahoma State 7 (19-7); Glenville
State 3 (23-5).
6 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 30 combined points.