LHU Men’s Basketball Opens Friday
CM’s Cole Renninger Transfers from Lehigh
LOCK HAVEN – The Lock Haven University men’s basketball team is set to tip off the 2015-16 season, as the Bald Eagles look to make a run at the PSAC Eastern Division crown.
LHU is set to open the season this weekend at the Wolf’s Bus Lines Classic hosted by Shippensburg University. The Bald Eagles will play Nyack College on Friday (3 p.m.) and Penn State Lehigh Valley on Saturday (3 p.m.)
The Bald Eagles earned a spot in their second straight PSAC Tournament last season (2014-15) after going 10-13 in PSAC play and earning the fifth-seed out of the Eastern Division. When LHU qualified for the postseason in 2013-14, it marked Lock Haven’s first playoff appearance since 2003.
Walker earns preseason honors:
Junior Bootsie Walker was named to the Preseason All-PSAC East team as voted on by the coaches. Walker was a key part of The Haven’s success last season and averaged 10.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Walker will be a major factor coming into this season for LHU, where his athleticism on both the offensive and defensive will be relied upon.
Senior experience at point guard:
LHU will also benefit from the return of redshirt-senior point guard Al Blount. Blount has knack for finding the open man and knocking down the big shot. Last year, Blount shot an outstanding 47 percent on three pointers.
New faces filling big roles:
The Bald Eagles added four transfers to the squad this offseason who will look to make an immediate impact.
Tracy Peal was an All-PSAC Second Team selection in 2013-14 at Kutztown where he led the Golden Bears averaging 16.9 points per game.
Shawn Church comes to The Haven from Harcum College, a top JUCO in Philadelphia, where he averaged 10 points per game and shot 42 percent from three.
Cole Renninger, a native of the Lock Haven area and an all-star at Central Mountain High School, played his first two seasons at Division I Lehigh and will look to make an immediate impact at the wing position.
Craig Slade is a solid low-post scorer from Highland Community College and should provide immediate depth to LHU’s front court.
Returning experience provides great depth:
The Bald Eagles also return five players who have played significant minutes for The Haven in the past, four of which tallied at least 25 games played last year.
Dave Garcia was a key member of the rotation last year and averaged 5.6 points per game in 27 games.
Ra’eese Hunt really came on for the Bald Eagles last year at the forward position and will look to continue his strong strides during his sophomore campaign.
Elijah Cooper will handle guard duties for LHU again this year, as the senior looks to be a force on both ends of the floor.
Julian Bond, who played in over 25 games last season, enters his senior year as a big-time three-point threat that will help LHU space the floor and stretch out defenses.
The Bald Eagles also welcome back Brahieme Jackson, who missed most of last season because of injury. Jackson is an athletic forward who plays with a ton of energy and should be a key part of the Bald Eagles 2015-16 season.
A look ahead:
After this weekend’s opening games, the Bald Eagles will hit the road for three straight PSAC contests. Lock Haven is scheduled to travel to PSAC East rival West Chester on Wednesday, November 18, before travelling to two PSAC West teams in California (PA) on Saturday, November 21 and Slippery Rock on Sunday, November 22.
LHU will travel to Carlow University for a non-conference matchup on Tuesday, November 24 before a stretch of a seven straight home games.
Lock Haven’s first game at Thomas Fieldhouse is set for Saturday, November 28 against Penn State Fayette.
