Kari GIbb/MDN MSU senior Jalen Cook (21), Caleb Van De Griend and teammates have the MSU Beavers ranked in the top 25 in both polls this week.

A split in win-loss on the week cost the Beavers a few spots in this week’s national polls, but for the ninth consecutive ranking the Minot State University (MSU) men’s basketball team remained a Top 25 team.

The Beavers (21-4 overall, 12-4 NSIC) set a new NCAA Division II-era record for wins with a 101-65 victory at home over Northern State on Saturday, quickly erasing the memory of a 68-65 setback Wednesday at Minnesota Crookston, and with the split the Beavers landed at No. 22 in the NABC Division II Coaches’ Poll and at No. 20 in the D2CSC Division II Poll voted on by the nation’s college sports communicators.

The Beavers received 58 points in this week’s NABC poll, slipping two spots, and picked up 74 points in the D2CSC poll as they slid three places.

NSIC-leading Southwest Minnesota State was the only other league team in the Top 25 as the Mustangs were No. 17 in the NABC poll with 146 points and No. 15 in the D2CSC poll with 152 points.

Concordia, St. Paul received 14 points and Winona State garnered 2 points in the NABC poll, and 22 points and 4 points, respectively, in the D2CSC poll, as both were in the “other’s receiving votes.”

MSU is back in action Wednesday, February 5, hosting Minnesota State Moorhead for Beaver Basketball Alumni Night at the MSU Dome. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. for the men’s game with the women’s game to follow.

The top five teams in the NABC poll remained the same with Washburn (Kan.) (21-0) at No. 1 followed by Daemen (N.Y.) (19-0) at No. 2, Nova Southeastern (Fla.) (19-1) at No. 3, Alabama Huntsville (20-1) at No. 4, and Missouri S&T (18-1) at No. 5.

The top four teams in the D2CSC poll remained the same with Washburn (Kan.) (21-0) at No. 1 followed by No. 2 Nova Southeastern (Fla.) (19-1), Daemen (N.Y.) (19-0) at No. 3, and Alabama Huntsville (20-1) at No. 4, while Missouri S&T (18-1) moved up from 10 to No. 5 in the college sports communicators rankings.

MSU climbed to a program-best No. 4 in the nation this season and has been ranked in nine consecutive NABC polls and six consecutive D2CSC polls this winter.