The Shawnee State Men's Basketball Team is counting on their veterans to lead the way to a successful year. The Bears return three starters from last year's squad, who are are looking to improve upon their disappointing 9-21 2010-11 season.
Leading the Bears is junior Tyler Morgan. Morgan has been the Bears' leading scorer the past two seasons, averaging over 14 points per game. Juniors Mark Bryant and Tyler Boyles return to their starting spots. Boyles averaged 13 points per game last year, while Bryant averaged over 10 points and seven rebounds a game. Also, returning to his starting role for the Bears is junior Ian Nixson. Nixson was sidelined last season because of injury and looks to return to his leadership role on the court as point guard.
Also returning from last years' squad is senior Alex Bruns and sophomores Andrew Devlin and Trevor Banks. Devlin will get the nod as starting center and looked at as a key contributor. Banks and Bruns will also be counted on by the Bears for valuable minutes.
Newcomers for the Bears include freshmen Colin Kennedy, Austin Vance, Tyler Farley and Terrence Smith. Kennedy, a 6-7 center from Catlettsburg, Kentucky, averaged over 12 points and nine rebounds per game at Chesapeake High School and will be looked at by the Bears as a factor down low. Farley, Vance and Smith will help with the Bears with depth in the back court. Farley, 6-0 shooting guard from Worthington, Kentucky, averaged over 14 points and six assists per game at Raceland-Worthington High School. Smith, a 5-10 guard from Vanceburg, Kentucky, averaged 16 points for the Lions of Lewis Country High School. Vance, a 5-10 guard from Lenore, West Virginia, averaged 23 points and seven assists for the Tug Valley Panthers.
Shawnee State kicks off a six game road trip to the open the 2011-2012 season at Cincinnati Christian on November 3. The Bears enter their second season in the Mid-South Conference, the premier conference in Division I Men's Basketball, and will face three preseason ranked teams including 2011 National Champions and preseason No. 1 ranked Pikeville, No. 8 Georgetown and No. 17 St. Catharine. Shawnee State opens conference action at UVa-Wise on November 19th. Another premier opponent on the Bears' schedule is NCAA Division I Kent State, which the Bears will to travel to on January 2.
