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THE 2017-18 GRIZZLY BASKETBALL team at Missouri State University-West Plains includes, front row from left, Erik Nvagbara, Kharkiv, Ukraine; Nieke Thomas, Springfield; Johde Campbell, Leicester, England; Ricky Torres, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Radshad Davis, Nassau, Bahamas; Terrell Whitaker, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Montel Stewart, Palm Bay, Fla.; and Eric Lovett, Union City, Ga. Second row: Evan White, Florissant; managers Marcus Golden and Eric Stafford, both of St. Louis; Head Coach Chris Popp; managers Jordan Cook, St. Louis, and Bennett Sandwell, Springfield; and Derrick Roberson, Springfield. Back row: Mykyta Drugachonok, Odessa, Ukraine; Yannis Mendy, Metting, France; Leo Kontopoulos, Frankfurt, Germany; Greyson Smallwood, Portland, Ore.; Dontell Brown, Lexington, Ky.; Kenyon Stone, Bowie, Md.; and Burone Edwards, San Antonio, Texas. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)
THE 2017-18 GRIZZLY BASKETBALL team at Missouri State University-West Plains includes, front row from left, Erik Nvagbara, Kharkiv, Ukraine; Nieke Thomas, Springfield; Johde Campbell, Leicester, England; Ricky Torres, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Radshad Davis, Nassau, Bahamas; Terrell Whitaker, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Montel Stewart, Palm Bay, Fla.; and Eric Lovett, Union City, Ga. Second row: Evan White, Florissant; managers Marcus Golden and Eric Stafford, both of St. Louis; Head Coach Chris Popp; managers Jordan Cook, St. Louis, and Bennett Sandwell, Springfield; and Derrick Roberson, Springfield. Back row: Mykyta Drugachonok, Odessa, Ukraine; Yannis Mendy, Metting, France; Leo Kontopoulos, Frankfurt, Germany; Greyson Smallwood, Portland, Ore.; Dontell Brown, Lexington, Ky.; Kenyon Stone, Bowie, Md.; and Burone Edwards, San Antonio, Texas. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

Grizzlies jump to No. 16 in NJCAA national poll

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team is “movin’ on up” the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball national poll.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzly Basketball team is “movin’ on up” the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball national poll.

The Grizzlies (17-2) were at No. 16 on the list released today, Jan. 9, from the organization’s home office in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They were ranked No. 24 in the previous poll released Dec. 19.

“I’m happy for our guys to get recognition for what they have accomplished to this point,” Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Chris Popp said. “There is a lot of season left, and beginning with Indian Hills tomorrow, a tough road ahead.

“The end goal is always post-season success,” he added. “We need to continue to improve to have a chance to make a run when it counts the most. That is a daily process, and this group has embraced that.”

Sitting atop the poll is Northwest Florida State College in Niceville with an 18-0 record. Northwest Florida has been the nation’s top team since the first regular season poll.

Also included in the poll at No. 3 is undefeated Indian Hills Community College from Ottumwa, Iowa. The Warriors will put their 18-0 record on the line Wednesday when they meet the Grizzlies at 7 p.m. in Joe Paul Evans Arena at the West Plains Civic Center.

Motlow State Community College, Lynchburg, Tennessee, whom the Grizzlies defeated Saturday in the Hirsch Feed & Farm Supply Classic, dropped from No. 7 to No. 10 as a result of the loss.

The Grizzlies’ Region 16 rival Moberly Area Community College is listed at No. 11 with a 15-2 record. And Iowa Western Community College of Council Bluffs, whom the Grizzlies defeated twice this season, remains on the list at No. 21 with a 15-2 record.

For the complete poll, visit http://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/div1/polls.

For complete statistics of the Grizzlies’ games this season, visit http://stats.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/div1/teams/missouristateuniversitywestplains.

For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit the team’s website or call 417-255-7991.

Stay up to date with Grizzly Athletics and Grizzly Booster Club news by signing up for text alerts at http://remind.com/join/wpgrizz or text “@WPGrizz to 81010.