BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II preseason poll released its rankings Tuesday afternoon, and two Mountain East Conference teams were recognized.
 
Fairmont State is ranked No. 5 in the NABC preseason poll, while West Liberty checks in at No. 11. The Fairmont State Falcons are coming off a 27-5 season overall and won the MEC Tournament Championship over West Liberty in triple overtime. Fairmont State fell in the NCAA Atlantic Regional to Fayetteville State.
 
The West Liberty Hilltoppers last season went 30-5 overall and advanced to the Division II Elite Eight at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. West Liberty reached the Elite Eight for the eighth time in program history and have reached the national tournament an NCAA record 16 consecutive seasons.
 
Fairmont State opens the season on Nov. 14 against Bloomsburg, while West Liberty’s season gets underway on the same date against Clarion.