Alva Review-Courier -

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference coaches have predicted a fourth-place tie for Northwestern Oklahoma State Men's Basketball team in 2020-21, with the preseason poll announced on Tuesday.

Southeastern Oklahoma State is the preseason favorite to win the Western Division in the GAC with 24 total points and four first-place votes. Followed by Oklahoma Baptist, who claimed the other two first-place votes and 21 overall points, Southern Nazarene, the defending champions are picked third with 16 points. NWOSU and SWOSU each received 14 points in the poll, and East Central collected five points.

Southern Arkansas stands as the preseason favorite to win the Eastern Division in the GAC with four first-place votes and 24 total points; next is Henderson State who received 22 points and the other two first-place votes. Coming in third with 14 points each is Arkansas Tech and Arkansas-Monticello. Wrapping up the poll in the Eastern Division is Harding, who collected five points.

The Red-and-Black will return just three players who saw time last season in senior guards Parrish Hewitt and Jack Peck, and junior guard Cole Jones. Northwestern has added 12 newcomers to the roster as head coach Vinay Patel enters his second year with the Rangers.

NWOSU will open GAC Divisional play at home against Southern Nazarene on Jan. 7.

2020 Great American Conference Poll

Western Division

1. Southeastern Okla. 24 (4)

2. Oklahoma Baptist 21 (2)

3. Southern Nazarene 16

4. Northwestern Okla. 12

4. Southwestern Okla. 12

5. East Central 5

Eastern Division

1. Southern Arkansas 24 (4)

2. Henderson State 22 (2)

3. Arkansas Tech 14

3. Arkansas-Monticello 14

4. Ouachita Baptist 11

5. Harding 5