The first regional ranking release of the season was favorable to the No. 9 Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team.
After climbing one spot in the national coaches poll this week, the Skyhawks received a No. 3 ranking in the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball South Central Regional Rankings.
Regional rankings are valued above all others for Division II programs as it determines the field for the NCAA Division II Tournament. The top eight teams in each region will qualify for the national tournament. However, a team outside the top eight can still qualify by winning its conference tournament, thus shrinking the regional pool qualifiers.
At 21-3 overall, 16-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and 18-3 against regional opponents, the Skyhawks are only one win away from clinching the RMAC regular season championship and the right to host the RMAC Shootout. FLC is 13-0 on its home of Bob Hofman Court at Whalen Gymnasium. FLC has won nine games in a row dating back to Jan. 15 in a three-point road loss to Colorado Mesa, the No. 10 team in the regional poll.
FLC falls in behind No. 1 Angelo State (15-4 Division II, 11-4 region) of the Lone Star Conference and No. 2 Dallas Baptist (15-5, 15-5) of the Heartland Conference.
Behind Fort Lewis at No. 4 is Midwestern State (14-5, 12-5) and RMAC rival Colorado Mines (17-6, 17-6). The Skyhawks boast two wins against the Colorado Mines Orediggers this season.
The Skyhawks, led by interim head coach Bob Pietrack, have a road trip ahead this weekend to New Mexico, where FLC will face New Mexico Highlands (13-12 overall, 12-7 RMAC) at 7 p.m. Friday and Western New Mexico (1-23, 1-18 RMAC) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
