ROLLA, Mo. – For the first time since the 2016-17 season, the Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team is ranked in the regular season National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Top 25 poll.
 
SMSU, off to a 3-0 start for the first time since the 2016-17 team opened 6-0, is ranked No. 18 in this week's poll receiving a total of 81 points. It's the 23^rd time in program history SMSU has been ranked in the NABC Top 25 poll. 
 
SMSU has opened the season defeating a pair of teams ranked in the preseason NABC Top 25 poll, including No. 16 Fort Hays State on Nov. 8 and No. 1 and defending national champion Minnesota State last Saturday night. 
 
SMSU is one of three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams ranked in this week's poll with MSU Moorhead at No. 3, while Minnesota Duluth is ranked No. 6.
 
SMSU continues non-conference play this Saturday and Sunday with two games in Fayette, Iowa, at the Peacock Classic hosted by Upper Iowa University. SMSU faces Northwest Missouri State on Saturday at 1 p.m. before taking on Upper Iowa on Sunday at 3 p.m.