Yellowjackets Crack West Region Top Ten (February 19, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings Yellowjackets, winners of their last eight games, have moved back into the NCAA II West Region Top 10 this week.  The Yellowjackets haven’t been in the regional poll since December, but an eight-game winning streak and a 14-6 record were enough to move them up to No. 10.

The Jackets were No. 6 in the December 20 poll.  That was followed by a six-game losing streak that knocked them out until this week.  MSUB joins two other Pacific West Conference teams in the poll.  BYU-Hawaii is at No. 3 and Hawaii-Hilo is No. 7. 

The Yellowjackets are on a five-game road swing that will decide their tournament fate.  They play at Western New Mexico on Thursday and Saturday before playing three games in Hawaii.  They will likely have to win at least three and possibly four of those games to move into the region’s top eight. 

Cal State-San Bernardino is the No. 1 team in the region, followed by Humboldt State and BYU-Hawaii.  The top seed will host the West Region Tournament, with the top eight teams in the poll qualifying.

NCAA II West Region Men’s Basketball Poll (through games of February 16, 2003)
1.         Cal State San Bernardino (17-4)
2.         Humboldt State (20-2)
3.         Brigham Young-Hawaii (13-2)
4.         Sonoma State (14-7)
5.         Cal Poly Pomona (15-6)
6.         Cal State Bakersfield (16-5)
7.         Hawaii-Hilo (15-7)
8.         Alaska Fairbanks (16-6)
9.         Alaska Anchorage (12-10)
10.       Montana State-Billings (14-6)

Next Poll: February 26, 2003