Bryan College Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Don Rekoske, announced the 29-game schedule for the Lions, which will begin today, Oct. 23, at home when they host the Ambassadors of Oakwood University (Ala.) at 7:30pm in their 2017-18 season opener.
In total, Bryan will play 14 home games in Summers Gymnasium and 15 away games. Following their contest against Oakwood, the Lions remain at home for a matchup with NCCAA opponent Johnson University (Tenn.) only two days later, Oct. 25, before wrapping up October with their first road game at another NCCAA foe, Hiwassee College (Tenn.) on Oct.
30.
November begins with the Lions traveling to Mid-South Conference foe University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) on the 3rd. After facing off with Asbury University (Ky.) and Oakwood University in a pair of road matches, Bryan returns home for their Appalachian Athletic Conference opener with Tennessee Wesleyan University on Nov. 16. One non-conference game follows at home against Hiwassee College (Tenn.) before the Lions see a long stint of AAC opponents that will carry on through the new year.
Bryan won’t leave Summers Gymnasium in the month of December as they host St. Andrews University (N.C.) Dec. 2, Reinhardt University (GA.) Dec. 6, Montreat College (N.C.) Dec. 9, and Asbury University Dec. 14.
To open up the new year, Bryan will battle conference rival Milligan College (Tenn.) in Dayton on Jan. 2, and won’t return home until Jan. 18 when they host Truett McConnell University (Ga.). The Lions will claw their way through another two road conference games before meeting up with Point University (Ga.) at home Jan. 30 to close out their busiest month of the regular-season (9 games).
Bryan starts February with a matchup at Reinhardt University on the 1st and closes regular-season play at home versus Allen University (S.C.) on Feb. 17.
Last Thursday, Oct. 19, the AAC Coaches’ poll for men’s basketball was released, and the Lions were picked to finish 9th in the conference. Union College (Ky.) is the team to beat for the 2017-18 AAC men’s basketball championship. The Bulldogs have or shared the last four AAC regular-season championships and has won the last four tournament crowns. The Bulldogs went 35-3 overall and 20-0 in the AAC en route to winning the 2017 NAIA Div. II National Championship.
In the poll, Union received nine first-place votes and 119 total voting points. Montreat is second with one first-place vote and 102 points. Reinhardt, which also advanced to the national tournament last year, checks in third with 82 points.
Bluefield (77 points) and Tennessee Wesleyan (73) round out the top five.
Here is the complete breakdown of the poll:
2017-18 Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) - Total Voting Points
1. Union (9) - 119
2. Montreat (1) - 102
3. Reinhardt - 82
4. Bluefield - 77
5. Tennessee Wesleyan - 73
6. Milligan - 69
7. Allen (1) - 61
8. Truett McConnell - 50
9. Bryan - 46
10. St. Andrews - 27
11. Point – 20
Last year, the Lions went 11-20 overall and 6-14 in AAC play, with point guard Oteriah Lee leading the way. He was Bryan’s only player to earn All-Conference honors after being named to the All-AAC First Team. He led the Lions in scoring, averaging over 15 points per game, and also led the team in assists. He ranked 8th in the AAC in scoring per game, 7th in overall points (468), 6th in shooting percentage (50.8), 1st in free throw percentage (87.2), 14th in steals (37), 2nd in assists per game (5.10) and total assists (153), 4th in assist/turnover ratio (1.8), had the AAC’s only triple double, and had the 2nd and 3rd best stellar assists games (11,10).
The AAC Tournament is set for Feb. 21-24 at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort in Kingsport, Tenn. This year, only the top eight teams will advance to compete in the tournament.