Pomeroys picked as RSC favorites

SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men’s basketball team — which advanced to last season’s NAIA National Tournament — has been picked as the preseason favorite by the league head coaches according to the River States Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll.

The Pomeroys garnered nine of the possible 12 first place votes in the poll to amass 119 points and finish ahead of Shawnee State who collected 106 points. IU-Kokomo received three first place mentions and earned 101 points.

Last season, the Pomeroys compiled a 25-7 overall record and secured the No. 2 seed in the River States Conference Tournament. They went all the way to RSC Championship game and became the first men’s program in SMWC Athletics history to advance to the NAIA National Tournament. Jessie McClung was named the River States Conference Coach Of The Year.

The campaign will tip-off for an exhibition contest at NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference member Valparaiso on October 30 which begins at 7 pm (CT). The Pomeroys will also travel to NCAA Division I foe Southeast Missouri State on December 15 for another exhibition contest.

The regular season begins on November 1 when they travel to IU Northwest in Gary, Ind., for the first of two games at the RedHawk Classic hosted by IU-Northwest. The action in that tournament concludes on Nov. 2 when they will face off against Trinity Christian (Ill.) in Gary.

SMWC will travel to Mount Vernon, Ohio on Nov., 8 & 9 to take part in the Mount Vernon Nazarene Homecoming Classic. On Nov. 8 the Pomeroys will face off against Aquinas College and the host Mount Vernon Nazarene on Nov. 9. The Pomeroys will travel to Louisville, Ky., to take on Simmons College of Kentucky on Nov. 12 for a single game beginning at 7 pm (ET). Up next is a trip to the Windy City to take part in the Moody Bible Classic on Nov. 15 & 16. On Nov. 15, the Pomeroys will take on Calvary and will come back to play the host Moody Bible on Nov. 16.

The home opener is set for Nov. 23 when they host Judson University at 1 p.m. (ET) inside the Knoerle Center. On Nov. 26, the Pomeroys will open River States Conference play when they travel to Brescia (Ky.) at 5:30 p.m. (CT).

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