KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Tarleton Texans slipped two spots to No. 17 in the nation in the final regular season National Association of Basketball Coaches poll released Tuesday.

The Texans, who have been invited to the South Central Region Tournament for the eighth time in the last 10 years, finished the regular season 24-5 overall.

West Liberty (29-0) remained in the top spot while Bellarmine (27-2) finished the year ranked No. 2 in the country. Augusta State (28-3) is third while Central Oklahoma (26-3) moved up to No. 4 in the country. Central Washington (26-3) rounds out the first five teams in the poll.

West Texas A&M (23-6) is the only other Lone Star Conference team in the poll at No. 23 while other South Central Region team are No. 9 Missouri Southern and No. 13 Fort Hays State.

Tarleton will return to action in the regional tournament when they face Midwestern State in the first round  of the national event at noon on Saturday, March 12 in Edmond, Okla.