Men's Basketball: PAC Releases Preseason Polls

Erikka Sansom, Director of Athletic Communications 

FULL PAC RELEASE 

Greenville, Pa. - The Bethany College men's basketball team was selected to finish tenth in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Tuesday afternoon.

Westminster was selected as perennial league-favorites. Geneva was selected to finish second, followed by Grove City, Chatham, and Washington & Jefferson round out the top-five.

Under first year head coach Mike Worrell the Bison look to improve from a 2-8 record last season. The team returns 11 led by seniors Derek White Jr. and Trent Uphold. Joining the seniors are juniors Asa Klimchock and Brendan Riggs along with sophomore Travis Zimmerman.

Riggs returns as one of the Green and White's leading scorers with 10.2 points per game. The Saint Petersburg native shot 44.4 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from behind the arc. He ranked second in the PAC in three-point field-goal percentage and fourth in three-point field-goals made (30, 3.0 per game).

Klimchock finished the season averaging 9.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He scored double-digits in six games.

White Jr. returns as one of the Bison toughest defenders. He currently sits seventh on the Bethany's career blocked shots list with 62. He averaged 5.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocked shots per game last season.

Zimmerman finished the season averaging 9.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He shot 42.9 percent from the field and scored double-digits four times last season.

Uphold appeared in four games before suffering a season ending injury.

The Bison open the season at the Lauren Hill Tip-Off Tournament November 13 when they face Mt. St. Joseph at 8 pm. The Green and White will face Franciscan on December 1, at 8 pm in Steubenville, Ohio.