INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Griffon Men's Basketball (17-9, 9-6 MIAA) is one of 10 teams recognized in the first NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Central Regional Rankings, released Wednesday, Feb. 18, by the NCAA. The initial rankings are listed in alphabetical order.

The Central Region is made up of institutions from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC), and the Great American Conference (GAC).

The Griffons are one of six MIAA programs featured in the first regional rankings. Also representing the conference are Arkansas-Fort Smith, No. 25 Central Missouri, Fort Hays State, Rogers State, and No. 3 Washburn.

The Central Region list is rounded out by Harding, No. 7 Oklahoma Baptist, and No. 20 Ouachita Baptist from the Great American Conference, along with St. Cloud State out of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Starting Wednesday, Feb. 25, the NCAA will begin ranking the top 10 teams in each region in numerical order. After conference postseason tournaments conclude Sunday, March 8, the top eight teams in the Central Region will secure spots in the 64-team NCAA Division II National Tournament.

Griffon Men's Basketball begins its final three-game homestand tonight, hosting Arkansas-Fort Smith, one of the teams featured in the first NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Central Regional Rankings, at 7:30 p.m. inside the Looney Complex on Tom Smith Court.