INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -  The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team is ranked 10th in the second NCAA Division II Central Region rankings released this afternoon by the NCAA national committee. 

The Mustangs are 11-8 this season and tied for seventh in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a 6-7 record.  SMSU has a 7-7 record versus NCAA Division II teams and a 6-7 mark versus region opponents.

SMSU is one of six NSIC schools to appear in the regional rankings with No. 2 Minnesota State, No. 4 Augustana, No. 5 Mary, No. 6 St. Cloud State and No. 8 Winona State.  The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has four teams ranked this week with No. 1 Mesa State (Colo.), No. 3 Metro State (Colo.) and No. 7 Ft. Lewis (Colo.) and No. 9 New Mexico Highlands. 

The top eight teams in the 28-team region will advance to the NCAA region tournament on Mar. 13-16.  Automatic bids are granted to the winners of the NSIC and RMAC postseason tournaments, with the remaining six spots awarded on an at-large basis.

Southwest Minnesota State will continue action this weekend hosting MSU Moorhead on Friday, Feb. 5 and Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday, Feb. 6.

NCAA Division II Central Regional Rankings
            D2     Region
    #     Team     Record    Record
    1.     Mesa State (Colo.)    14-1    12-0
    2.     Minnesota State, Mankato    16-1    15-1       
    3.     Metro State (Colo.)    12-3    12-3
    4.    Augustana    12-4    12-4
    5.    Mary    11-7    11-7
    6.     St. Cloud State    12-4    12-4
    7.     Ft. Lewis (Colo.)    12-4    12-4
    8.     Winona State    11-5    11-5   
    9.    New Mexico Highlands    8-7    8-7
    10.     Southwest Minnesota State    7-7    6-7