Men's Basketball | 11/10/2016 5:23:00 PM
DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern men's basketball will open the 2016-17 season on Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. when they take on Northeastern State in the first game of the GAC/MIAA Challenge in Edmond, Okla.
The Savage Storm will follow it up with a Nov. 13 matchup with host Central Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m.
A trio of seniors who were three of the team's top four scorers from a season ago will aim to get Southeastern back into the Great American Conference postseason mix.
The Savage Storm open the 2016-17 season picked to finish 10
th in the league according the preseason poll which is selected by the conference head coaches. The Savage Storm finished with 37 points in the poll, just one point behind Northwestern Oklahoma State who was ninth.
SE is coming off a season in which it missed the conference tournament for the first time since forming the GAC, but just barely as the Storm came out on the short side of a tie for eighth with Northwestern Oklahoma State.
"Senior leadership is very important to the success of the team," said head coach
Kelly Green. "We are fortunate to have three seniors who have been in the program for a minimum of three years to lead this years' Savage Storm."
"
Anton Cook,
Tyler Lonzie, and
Nathan Jackson," he continued, "Will be expected to be the foundation of our team for this season and we believe they are tremendous leaders on and off the court. All 3 have played extensively in their careers here at SE and know what it takes for success. Each of them are scheduled to graduate in the Spring."
SE finished in front of Oklahoma Baptist who was 11
th and Arkansas-Monticello who rounded out the poll in 12
th.
East Central is the preseason favorite with 117 points and seven of the 12 first place votes, while Ouachita Baptist is second with 99 and two first place votes.
The Storm returns three of its top four scorers from a season ago, including
Anton Cook who turned in 15.0 ppg and earned honorable mention All-GAC recognition last season.
Also back are
Nathan Jackson who averaged 9.8 ppg and
Tyler Lonzie who chipped in 8.8 per contest.
Lonzie was also the team's leading rebounder at 6.3 rpg while adding a team-best 35 blocked shots.
The GAC schedule will open on Nov. 17 at Arkansas-Monticello with a 7:30 contest, while SE's first home action will not be until Nov. 21 when it hosts Dallas Christian at 7:30 p.m. in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
