BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Benedict College men’s basketball team has been picked to win the 2016-17 SIAC East Division, in a vote of the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Tigers, who went 16-12 overall and 11-7 in the SIAC last season, return just two players from that squad. Christopher Spencer, who averaged 7.1 points per game last season, is the top returner for the Tigers. Benedict received six of the 13 first-place votes and 80 total points. Claflin was second with 78 total points and four first-place votes.
Terrance Bridgeman of Lane was voted the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and Austin Lawton of Claflin was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced on Thursday during Media Day at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala.
The preseason honors and predicted order of finish are voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Bridgeman, a 6-3 senior guard from South Bend. Ind., averaged 16.0 points per game last season which ranked fifth in the SIAC. He shot 43.0 percent from the field and ranked third in the league in steals with 2.1 a game. Bridgeman averaged 3.1 rebounds per game and was a member of the 2015-16 SIAC Men’s Basketball All-Conference team. Additionally, he scored 20 or more points on eight occasions last season.
Lawton, the 2015-16 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 7.0 rebounds a game last season which ranked sixth in the conference. Lawton, a 6-9 redshirt-sophomore from Eutawville, S.C. averaged 7.9 points a game and recorded five double-doubles last year. He led the SIAC in blocks (2.9/game) last season which was eighth in the NCAA.
Joining Bridgeman and Lawton on the 2016 SIAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Team are Justin Street (LeMoyne-Owen), Rashawn Brown (LeMoyne-Owen), Demba Konate (LeMoyne-Owen), Kendarius Ash (Lane), Ryan McNeil-Moses (Claflin), Malcolm Smith (Kentucky State), Tim Sanders (Clark Atlanta), James Eads (Tuskegee), Kaderious Compton (Paine), and D’Areial Franklin (Fort Valley).
After Benedict and Claflin, Morehouse was picked third with 70 points and a pair of first place votes. Clark Atlanta (46) was fourth, ahead of Fort Valley (35) who garnered one first place vote, followed by Albany State (34), and Paine (24).
Lane led the west division with 78 points and five first place votes. Miles was picked second with 71 points and two first place votes. With 62 points and three first place votes, LeMoyne-Owen followed in third ahead of Tuskegee (59) who earned two first place votes. Central State (36) was fifth followed by Kentucky State (32) who received one first place vote. Spring Hill was picked seventh and finished with 26 points in the poll.
2016 SIAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Team
Preseason Player of the Year
Terrance Bridgeman, Lane
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Austin Lawton, Claflin
| Terrance Bridgeman * |
Lane |
6’3 | Senior | Guard |
South Bend, Ind. |
| Austin Lawton * |
Claflin |
6’9 | R-So. | Center |
Eutawville, S.C. |
| Kendarius Ash * |
Lane |
6’7 | R-So. | Forward |
Decatur, Ga |
| Justin Street * |
LeMoyne-Owen |
6’6 | Senior | G/F |
Memphis, Tenn. |
| Rashawn Brown |
LeMoyne-Owen |
6’6 | Junior | G/F |
Memphis, Tenn. |
| Ryan McNeil-Moses |
Claflin |
6’4 | Senior | Forward |
Washington, D.C. |
| Malcolm Smith |
Kentucky State |
6’2 | Junior | Guard |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Tim Sanders |
Clark Atlanta |
6’2 | Senior | Guard |
Memphis, Tenn. |
| James Eads |
Tuskegee |
6’4 | Sophomore | G/F |
Orlando, Fla. |
| Kaderious Compton |
Paine |
5’9 | Senior | Guard |
Memphis, Tenn. |
| D’Areial Franklin |
Fort Valley |
6’5 | Senior | G/F |
Gadsden, Ala. |
| Demba Konate |
LeMoyne-Owen |
6’9 | Senior | C/F |
Bamako, Mali |
* Indicates returner from the 2015-16 SIAC All-Conference Team
Predicted Order of Finish
East
1. Benedict (80) – 6 first place votes
2. Claflin (78)- 4 first place votes
3. Morehouse (70) – 2 first place votes
4. Clark Atlanta (46)
5. Fort Valley State (35) – 1 first place vote
6. Albany Staste (34)
7. Paine (24)
West
1. Lane (78) – 5 first place votes
2. Miles (71) – 2 first place votes
3. LeMoyne-Owen (62) – 3 first place votes
4. Tuskegee (59) – 2 first place votes
5. Central State (36)
6. Kentucky State (32) – 1 first place vote
7. Spring Hill (26)
