KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men's Basketball increased its vote total in the latest NABC Top 25 Poll released on Tuesday (Jan. 27). The Tigers received 13 more votes than they did in the previous poll and are the fourth-highest team listed among the receiving votes list. Fort Hays State enters the week with an overall record of 15-4 and a 7-3 mark in MIAA play.
It is a bit week of home games for the Tigers as they play host to Washburn on Thursday night and Central Missouri on Saturday afternoon. Washburn continues to hold the No. 1 ranking nationally, still undefeated at 20-0 overall and 10-0 in the MIAA. The Ichabods are the nation's top-ranked team for the sixth-straight release of the poll after moving to the top spot on December 16. Washburn started the year No. 2 in the NABC Preseason Poll and remained in that position until taking over the No. 1 spot in December. The Ichabods are one of just two unbeatens remaining in Division II for men's basketball, alongside Cal State East Bay with an 18-0 record.
A big week could potentially vault the Tigers into the Top 25, but they will have to avenge a pair of losses from earlier this season. FHSU lost its MIAA opener at Central Missouri on December 4 by a score of 64-50, then fell 73-66 at then No. 2 ranked Washburn on December 6. Both games were tight before the home team used bursts late in the second half to pull away in both contests. FHSU led by two points at halftime of the game at Central Missouri and by one point at halftime of the game at Washburn. Central Missouri has been solid this season, holding an overall record of 15-7 and a 6-4 mark in MIAA play.
Arkansas-Fort Smith is the only other MIAA member in the Top 25 besides Washburn. The Lions began the year 13-0 before losing three-straight games. They are now 15-3 overall and hold the No. 17 ranking in the latest poll. Arkansas-Fort Smith trails FHSU by a half game in the MIAA standings at 6-3.
Below is the NABC Top 25 Poll for January 27, 2026.
| RANK |
SCHOOL |
RECORD |
POINTS |
PREVIOUS |
| 1 |
Washburn (Kan.) (16) |
20-0 |
400 |
1 |
| 2 |
Nova Southeastern (Fla.) |
15-1 |
380 |
3 |
| 3 |
Cal State East Bay |
18-0 |
359 |
5 |
| 4 |
Daemen (N.Y.) |
21-1 |
333 |
2 |
| 5 |
Anderson (S.C.) |
17-1 |
327 |
7 |
| 6 |
Michigan Tech |
18-2 |
318 |
6 |
| 7 |
Gannon (Pa.) |
17-2 |
313 |
10 |
| 8 |
Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.) |
17-2 |
291 |
4 |
| 9 |
Lubbock Christian (Texas) |
17-3 |
254 |
11 |
| 10 |
Northern Michigan |
18-2 |
239 |
13 |
| 11 |
Saint Martin's (Wash.) |
17-2 |
237 |
12 |
| 12 |
West Alabama |
17-2 |
206 |
8 |
| 13 |
West Liberty (W.Va.) |
15-3 |
201 |
14 |
| 14 |
Fairmont State (W.Va.) |
15-3 |
157 |
17 |
| 15 |
Oklahoma Baptist |
15-2 |
149 |
20 |
| 16 |
Missouri S&T |
13-3 |
147 |
9 |
| 17 |
Arkansas Fort Smith |
15-3 |
145 |
16 |
| 18 |
Eastern New Mexico |
15-3 |
115 |
19 |
| 19 |
Black Hills State (S.D.) |
15-3 |
112 |
21 |
| 20 |
Walsh (Ohio) |
15-2 |
106 |
23 |
| 21 |
Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) |
16-4 |
78 |
15 |
| 22 |
St. Edward's (Texas) |
17-4 |
42 |
25 |
| 23 |
Grand Valley State (Mich.) |
15-3 |
40 |
NR |
| 24 |
Dallas Baptist (Texas) |
15-5 |
34 |
NR |
| 25 |
Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) |
14-3 |
32 |
NR |
Receiving Votes: West Florida 26, Virginia Union 25, Felician (N.J.) 24,
Fort Hays State (Kan.) 24, McKendree (Ill.) 20, Point Loma (Calif.) 14, Southern Nazarene (Okla.) 12, Florida Southern 10, Southwest Minnesota State 8, Indiana (Pa.) 7, Lander (S.C.) 6, Saint Anselm (N.H.) 6, UVa-Wise (Va.) 2, St. Cloud State (Minn.) 1.
