Western Washington University again earned the top spot in the third NCAA Division II West Region men's basketball ranking released Wednesday, March 6.

The rating was the last of the season with selections for the West Regional slated for Sunday, March 10, on NCAA.com at 7:30 p.m. The defending regional and national champion Vikings are expected to be the No. 1 seed and host this year's regional of the NCAA Division II national tournament on March 15-16 and 18.

WWU, 26-1 overall, won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season title with a conference record-setting 17-1 mark. The Vikings are the No. 1 seed in this week's GNAC Tournament, meeting the winner of today's Alaska Fairbanks/Montana State Billings first-round game in a semifinal matchup Friday (7:30 p.m.). The championship contest is Saturday (7:30 p.m.) and will be televised on ROOT Sports.

WWU, ranked No. 2 nationally, is followed in the West Region by Cal Poly Pomona, Seattle Pacific, Dixie State, Cal State San Bernardino, Grand Canyon, Chaminade, Alaska Anchorage, Chico State, and San Francisco State.

The regional ranking helps determine which five at-large teams join the tournament champions from the GNAC, Pacific West Conference and California Collegiate Athletic Association in the West Regional.

NCAA II West Region Men's Basketball Rankings

1.Western Washington

2. Cal Poly Pomona

3. Seattle Pacific

4. Dixie State

5. Cal State San Bernardino

6. Grand Canyon

7. Chaminade

8. Alaska Anchorage

9. Chico State

10. San Francisco State