ALVA, Okla. - The Great American Conference released the annual preseason coaches' poll, voted on by the conference coaches. The Northwestern Rangers enter the year picked 11th.

Ouachita Baptist finished first in the poll with 115 points and seven first-place votes, with Oklahoma Baptist coming in second with 110 points and five first place votes. Harding was placed third on 101 points, with Southern Nazarene receiving 86 points for fourth, and Henderson State in fifth with 78 points.

East Central placed sixth with 73 points, with Southeastern receiving 59 points for seventh, and Arkansas Tech getting 46 points for eighth. Southwestern and Southern Arkansas tied for ninth with 45 points, with the Rangers in 11^th with 19 points, and Arkansas-Monticello rounding out the poll in 12^th with 13 points.

The Rangers return four players from last year's team, with Kyler Penco, Camdyn Richardson, Elijah Bragg, and Antonio Listenbee returning. The Rangers brought in 16 newcomers for this season, as they look to build with head coach Ty Danielson at the helm.

The Rangers open their season on Nov. 13, when they travel to Edmond for a matchup against Oklahoma Christian at 5:30 p.m., with the conference opener on Dec. 3 against Southwestern at Percefull Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m. The Rangers take on preseason favorite Ouachita Baptist inside Percefull Fieldhouse on Jan. 16 at 3 p.m., with 2026 Final Four representative Oklahoma Baptist visiting Alva on Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. and the home finale on Feb. 25 against East Central at 7:30 p.m.

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