COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Riding a season-long eight-game winning streak, including a 2-0 mark last week, the Northwest men's basketball team is up four spots to No. 18 in the NJCAA Top 25 poll.

Northwest broke in at No. 22 last week with its first ranking in 12 years and defeated Mississippi Delta and Coahoma last week to claim its 13th MACJC North Division title.

The Rangers are the only men's team in Mississippi junior college currently ranked. JCJC's women are No. 5. 

Northwest is off to its best start since the 2005-06 season at 19-2 overall and has wins over No. 24 Northeast, No. 25 Holmes and have also beaten ASU Mid-South twice, who is ranked 15th in the NJCAA Division II poll.

Northwest will serve as host of the 2018 MACJC Basketball Tournament at Howard Coliseum Feb. 26-March 1. Game times are 12, 2, 5 and 7 p.m. the first three days, with the championships set for 5/7 p.m. Thursday.