Men's Basketball | 11/16/2021 6:57:00 PM

    WILMINGTON, Del. – The West Liberty University men's basketball team moved up one spot to No. 6 on Tuesday when the Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) released its first NCAA Division II Top 25 Media Poll of the 2021-22 regular season.
    The D2SIDA Media Poll is conducted by a nationwide panel of NCAA Division II sports information directors with equal representation from each of the eight NCAA Division II regions. The second regular season D2SIDA Media Poll will be released on Nov. 23.
    Ranked No. 7 in the D2SIDA's Preseason Top 25, Coach Ben Howlett's high-flying Hilltoppers had a strong opening weekend as they hosted an Atlantic Region Crossover event inside the ASRC. The Black and Gold posted convincing double-digit wins against Atlantic Region foes Winston-Salem State (N.C.) and East Stroudsburg (Pa.) in the weekend tournament, blowing past the century mark in each game.
    There was some shuffling at the top of the poll as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams from the preseason poll were upset victims last week. Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State slipped to No. 2 after Saturday's 83-77 loss to a University of Sioux Falls squad that was coming off a 21-point loss to Southern Nazarene on Friday. Flagler (Fla.), which knocked off NCAA Division I Valparaiso in a preseason exhibition, dropped all the way to No. 14 after losing to Anderson (S.C.), 80-77, in a mutual season opener on Friday.
    West Texas A&M (5-0) is the new No. 1 with Lubbock Christian (2-0) and Hillsdale (2-0) tied for No. 3. Atlantic Region rival Indiana, Pa. (2-0) edged out the Hilltoppers by a scant three points at No. 5. Fairmont State also moved up two spots in the poll, checking in at No. 21 this week after getting off to a 2-0 start. The University of Charleston dropped out of the Top 25 following a season-opening loss to California (Pa.).
    West Liberty takes its 2-0 record on the road Wednesday for a 7 p.m. non-conference matchup against Pitt-Johnstown. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
       Team (FPV)                                                 Rec          Pts       Pvs
  1.    West Texas A&M (11)                          340          5-0           3
  2.    NW Missouri State (2)                         310          3-1           1
  3.    Lubbock Christian                                 298          2-0           4
(tie)  Hillsdale                                                  298          2-0           5
  5.    Indiana (Pa.)                                          274          2-0           6
  6.    WEST LIBERTY                                       271          2-0           7
  7.    Queens (N.C.)                                        262          2-0         14
  8.    Truman State                                         241          2-0         15
  9.    Point Loma                                             235          2-0         13
10.   Nova Southeastern                              215          1-0           9
11.   Embry-Riddle                                         208          4-0        NR
12.   Saint Anselm                                          202          0-0         16
13     Lincoln Memorial                                  190          2-0         19
14.   Flagler                                                     151          1-1           2
15.   Mercyhurst                                            141          2-0         21
16.   Southern Indiana                                  132          0-0         18
17.   Oklahoma Baptist                                 129          2-0         RV
18.   Dallas Baptist                                         103          2-0         RV
19.   Chico State                                             101          2-0         RV
20.   Augustana (S.D.)                                     90          2-0        NR
21.   FAIRMONT STATE                                  82          2-0         23
22.   Washburn                                                 42          1-1         11
23.   Valdosta State                                         32          1-1           8
24.   Lee                                                             30          1-1         22
25.   CSU-San Bernardino                               27          2-0        NR
(tie)  Bentley                                                      27          1-0        NR
       Others Receiving Votes (on multiple ballots): Daemen 23; Ashland 21; Dominican (N.Y.) 17; Ferris State 10; Colorado Mesa 8; Cal Poly Pomona 6; UNC Pembroke 3