NSU Men's Basketball Earns No. 5 Region Rank

The Northeastern State men's basketball team landed at No. 5 in the NCAA Central Region rankings.

The RiverHawks (19-7, 12-6 MIAA) are the highest-ranked team in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, and they are looking to return to the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship for the first time since winning the title in 2002-03.

The top eight schools in each region qualify for the NCAA Championship, and the selection show will air at 9:30 p.m. March 10 on NCAA.com.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletics Association featured the top three teams in the central region rankings in No. 1 Minnesota State University, No. 2 Winona State University and No. 3 Augustana College. The only other MIAA schools in the rankings were No. 7 Central Missouri and No. 8 Washburn.

NSU has earned the No. 4 seed in the 2013 MIAA Championship quarterfinals and will play No. 5 Northwest Missouri State at 2:15 p.m. March 7 inside Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium.

NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Central Region Rankings (March 6)

1. Minnesota State

2. Winona State

3. Augustana (S.D.)

4. Harding

5. Northeastern State

6. Upper Iowa

7. Central Missouri

8. Washburn

9. St. Cloud State

10. Arkansas Tech