Men's standings

                                Conf.       Overall

                                W-L         W-L         

Central Missouri     8-1           14-3

Northeastern State  7-3           14-4

NW Missouri          6-3           13-5

Washburn                5-3           12-4

Lindenwood            5-4           12-5

Pittsburg State        5-4           12-5

Fort Hays State      5-4           11-6

Central Oklahoma   5-4           7-10

Missouri Southern  4-5           9-8

SW Baptist             4-5           6-11

Missouri Western   4-6           9-8

Truman                   4-6           7-11

Emporia State         3-5           8-8

Neb. Kearney          2-8           5-13

Lincoln                    2-8           3-17



Women's standings

                                Conf.       Ovr.

                                W-L         W-L

Washburn                7-1           13-3

Truman                   8-2           15-3

Northeastern State  8-2           13-5

Central Missouri     7-2           15-2

Pittsburg State        6-3           12-5

Emporia State         5-3           10-6

Missouri Western   5-5           12-6

Fort Hays State      4-5           12-5

Missouri Southern  4-5           10-7

NW Missouri State 4-5           10-7

Lincoln                    4-6           9-9

SW Baptist             3-6           8-9

Neb. Kearney          2-8           5-12

Central Oklahoma   1-8           8-9

Lindenwood            1-8           4-13



MIAA schedule - this week

(Weeknight games: women start at 5:30 p.m., men at 7:30; Saturday games: women at 1:30 p.m., men at 3:30, unless noted otherwise)

Wednesday

Central Oklahoma at Fort Hays State

Central Missouri at Lincoln

Pittsburg State at Missouri Western

Emporia State at Nebraska Kearney



Thursday

Lindenwood at Southwest Baptist

Northeastern State at NW Missouri State

Missouri Southern at Washburn



Friday

Central Oklahoma at Nebraska Kearney



Saturday

Central Missouri at Lindenwood (women at 1; men at 3).

Northeastern State at Missouri Western

Emporia State at NW Missouri State

Truman at SW Baptist

Missouri Southern at Fort Hays State (women at 2; men at 4).

Pittsburg State at Washburn (women at 5; men at 7).

MIAA Men

Ahead of the pack

Central Missouri: On the cusp of the top 25, the Mules have been on a roll in 2013. In fact, Central Missouri's last loss was to Dixie State College of Utah on Dec. 18 in Las Vegas. The Mules' last MIAA loss was at Fort Hays State on Dec. 5. Since then, they've won eight straight league games to build their lead in the standings to two games.



Up and coming

Northeastern State: Since losing three straight MIAA games earlier this month, the RiverHawks have rebounded to post four straight victories, starting with an 80-71 victory at Central Oklahoma on Jan. 16.



On the skids

Missouri Southern: Not even playing at home has been able to help the Lions as of late. Missouri Southern has lost three straight games, including two home contests against Nebraska Kearney and Northeastern State. And it doesn't get any easier Wednesday night at Washburn.



Notes

Bransford breaking out: Northeastern State senior forward Jermaine Bransford has been on a roll lately, racking up consecutive double-doubles to earn MIAA Player of the Week. In wins over Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern, Bransford averaged 19.5 points and 14 rebounds per game. Bransford has now recorded 10 doubles-doubles this season for the RiverHawks.

Sellout for Sterling: In honor of Lindenwood athlete, Sterling Thomas, the Lions are hosting "Sellout for Sterling" on Saturday afternoon in St. Charles, Mo. Lindenwood is attempting to sell out Hyland Arena against Central Missouri with proceeds from the game going to Thomas, who suffered a spinal cord injury during the Lions' football season on Oct. 27. Since then, he's been transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.



MIAA Women

Ahead of the pack

Washburn: Since losing at Northeastern State on Jan. 19, the Lady Blues have won handily in back-to-back road games at Lincoln and Lindenwood. Washburn, though, has played the fewest amount of league games and still has contests left against Pittsburg State, Fort Hays State, Emporia State and Central Missouri.



Up and coming

Northeastern State and Truman: Both clubs are tied for second in the league, and both have won at least three straight games. NSU has fired off five consecutive wins while Truman has three. The two teams will meet at Jack Dobbins Field House on Feb. 9.



On the skids

Central Oklahoma: At one point this season, the Bronchos were 1-1 in MIAA play. Since then, Central Oklahoma has lost seven straight, including a lopsided, 89-57 setback at Emporia State over the weekend.



Notes

Truman in top 25: For the first time in 13 years, Truman is in the top 25. The Bulldogs debuted at No. 22 in this week's Division II coaches' poll. The last time Truman was in the top 25 was Jan. 26, 2000.

Getting defensive: During Northeastern State's five-game winning streak, the RiverHawks have held their opponents to an average of 46.8 points per game.



Games of the week

Men: Pittsburg State at Washburn, Saturday

Two of the top-five scoring offenses will clash in Topeka, Kan., on Saturday.

Women: Pittsburg State at Washburn, Saturday

A loss could be damaging to either team in the standings. Washburn could fall back to Truman and Northeastern State, while Pittsburg State could fall back to the middle of the pack around the .500 mark.