Storm Men Open Season Thursday

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern returns to the basketball court beginning Jan. 7 when it jumps into a busy weekend of Great American Conference action in Shawnee, Okla., at Oklahoma Baptist at 7:30 p.m.. That matchup is followed by a 4 p.m. matchup at Southwestern Oklahoma State on Jan. 9 and a rivalry contest with East Central at 7:30 p.m. in Bloomer Sullivan Arena for the home opener on Jan. 11.
 
Due to health protocols, fans will not be allowed into road or home games at this time, but games can still be followed on the air on 96.1 FM with Jay Lindly on the call as well as live video from the home institutions of each game.
 
SE is coming off its second-straight NCAA Central Region berth as a No. 3 seed after posting a 23-8 record and earning the number two seed in the GAC tournament and enters the 2021 season as the favorite to win the GAC Western Division.
 
The Storm are paced by a pair of returning All-GAC picks, including All-Central region selection Adam Dworsky who set the SE and GAC record for assists in a season in 2019-20 while averaging 14.8 ppg and 8.4 assists per game.
 
He is joined by fellow all-conference honoree Kellen Manek who put up 14.0 ppg and pulled down 6.6 rpg.
 
They are joined by Bobby Johnson who saw starts a season ago, while Al Ervin, Vadim Clanet, and Markeith Williams all return.
 
The Storm welcome a trio of transfer newcomers in Taylor Cox, Adam Nance, and Alan Kikwaki, while Max Chenault, Nimrod Altit, Jaedaun Slack, Jaxon Ingram, and Ante Brzovic all come in as freshmen.
 
OBU was picked second in the preseason poll in the division after posting a 22-9 record last season and earning a berth in the Central Regional. They are led by Jaquan Simms who averaged 12.4 ppg.
 
The Bulldogs come into the season tied for fourth in the preseason poll after posting a 13-15 record last season and are led by Damion Thornton who posted 19.8 ppg and 8.3 rpg last season.
 
ECU was sixth in the preseason poll after a 17-12 record in 2019-20 and return number-two scorer Tyler Arnold who averaged 12.1 ppg.