On top: NIACC men ranked No. 1 for second time in school history

MASON CITY - For the second time in school history, the NIACC men's basketball team is ranked No. 1.

The 2019-20 version of Trojans climbed to the top of the NJCAA Division II rankings Monday moving up a spot from last week's second slot. NIACC (11-0) topped Southwestern 98-68 on Dec. 4 and last week's No. 1 Johnson County CC dropped a 91-79 decision to North Central Missouri College.

The only other time the NIACC men have been ranked No. 1 was in the Jan. 11, 1978 poll when there was one division of NJCAA basketball. The 1977-78 Trojans started the season 11-0 and finished 22-7.

The NIACC men were ranked third in the Dec. 4, 2012 poll, were third in the Feb. 26, 2019 poll and have been No. 2 in the last two 2019-20 polls (Nov. 25 and Dec. 2).

NIACC returns to action at 7 p.m. Friday at Johnson County CC in Overland Park, Kan. The Trojans also play Highland CC (Kan.) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, also in Overland Park. Kan.

DMACC (10-2) is ranked seventh and Kirkwood (8-3) is ranked 12th in this week's poll.

NJCAA Division II rankings (Dec. 9, 2019) - NIACC, Schoolcraft, Sullivan County, South Suburban, North Central Missouri, Niagara County, DMACC, Milwaukee Area Tech, Davidson County, Johnson County, Erie, Kirkwood, Ancilla, Beaver County, Arkansas State Mid-South, Scottsdale, Parkland, DCTC, Highland (Kan.), Howard.

NIACC's 2019-20 season (11-0 overall)

NIACC 119, Hibbing CC 74

NIACC 119, Bryant & Stratton (Wis.) 88

NIACC 100, Kansas City (Kan.) CC 95

NIACC 120, Quakderdale Prep Academy 62

NIACC 105, Luther College JV 58

NIACC 144, Grinnell College JV 107

NIACC 120, Wartburg College JV 107

NIACC 111, Central CC-Columbus (Neb.) 82

NIACC 105, Northeast CC 85

NIACC 115, Central CC-Columbus (Neb.) 103

NIACC 98, Southwestern 68