The Lions are currently 12-2 after winning their last three games, including an overtime win over nationally ranked Angelo State on Saturday. The Lions are about to wrap up a seven-game road swing that has seen them go 5-1 to this point.
A&M-Commerce received two first place votes and 37 points overall, just one point behind the top ranked team in the region - Tarleton State. The Lions and Texans are tied for first place in the Lone Star Conference standings and meet up at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Stephenville. The spotlight game between the two top teams in the region is the only game being played in the South Central Region on Tuesday.
This is the seventh release of the rankings this season. The polls are calculated by the rankings of various media members, with a first place vote worth 10 points. The South Central Region consists of the Lone Star, Rocky Mountain Athletic and Heartland conferences. This is the first ranking since mid-December and the poll will be released weekly until the NCAA rankings begin.
The Lions are one of six teams from the LSC in the rankings. Behind the top duo of Tarleton and A&M-Commerce are West Texas A&M in third, Angelo State in fourth, Midwestern State in seventh, and Cameron in ninth.
2016-17 D2SIDA Men's Basketball Media Poll
as of January 9, 2017
| Rank | School (First Place Votes) | Record | Pts | Prev. |
| 1 | Tarleton State (2) | 13-2 | 38 | 3 |
| 2 | A&M-COMMERCE (2) | 12-2 | 37 | 5 |
| 3 | West Texas A&M | 16-2 | 31 | 1 |
| 4 | Angelo State | 10-2 | 29 | 2 |
| 5 | Regis (Colo.) | 12-3 | 23 | NR |
| 6 | Colorado Mines | 12-3 | 21 | 6 |
| 7 | Midwestern State | 10-4 | 16 | NR |
| 8 | Fort Lewis (Colo.) | 13-3 | 9 | 4 |
| 9 | Metropolitan State-Denver | 10-5 | 6 | NR |
| Cameron | 10-6 | 6 | 9 |