KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team has been ranked first in the preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll, released on Tuesday. The Bearcats, who went 35-1 last year and won the Division II National Championship, received 399 points and 15-of-16 first place votes. Northwest will face Lincoln Memorial, the poll’s No. 4 ranked team, on Tuesday, Dec. 19, in Owensboro, Ky. MIAA members Central Missouri and Wasburn each received votes.

The Bearcats begin the regular season on Friday, Nov. 10, against Upper Iowa in St. Joseph, Mo., at 1 p.m. The first home action for Northwest is on Friday, Nov. 17, against Metro State at 7 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

— Northwest Athletics —