LHU vs. PSU at BJC Tonight
LOCK HAVEN – The Lock Haven University men’s basketball team is ready to open the 2016-17, as the Bald Eagles look to make their return to the PSAC playoffs.
LHU is set to open up the season with an exhibition at Division I Penn State, game time at the Bryce Jordan Center at 6 p.m. LHU first met Penn State in 1964 when the Bald Eagles took down the Nittany Lions 56-30; the all-time series is tied 7-7.
Among the projected first game starters is Cole Renninger, a senior and former Central Mountain High School standout.
Coach Mike Nestor’s outlook:
“We are excited to get this season started. With so many new faces there is a lot of teaching and learning going on right now. The returners are really setting the tone in terms of how hard we are working and showing the new guys what it means to play here at LHU. This team will play fast and be fun to watch with the goal of improving each day we hit the floor.”
LHU selected seventh in Preseason Poll:
The Haven was selected to finish seventh in the 2016 Eastern Division Preseason Coaches’ Poll that was released last week. The Bald Eagles are coming off three straight PSAC playoff appearances and are eying a fourth straight. They have finished the last two years with eight and 10 PSAC wins respectively.
Returning Starters –
Brahieme Jackson, Redshirt Senior – F (26GP/24GS, 11.1 pts/game, 6.9 rbs/game, 1.7 steals/game)
Cole Renninger, Senior – G (27GP/25GS, 4.3 pts/game, 1.9 assists/game)
Fresh Faces:
The Bald Eagles will add seven freshmen, five of which will be true freshmen. The five freshmen are Khaleeq Campbell, Keinan Oxner, Jakwon McQueen, Fateem Jackson and Tarojae Brake.
Amir Hinton and Jihad Barnes will join LHU’s lineup after red-shirting last season. Both Hinton and Barnes used last season’s red-shirts as an opportunity to work harder and have found themselves in this year’s projected starting lineup.
Projected Starters:
#13 Jihad Barnes- R-Freshman, Guard, 6-1, 165
#03 Cole Renninger- Senior, Guard, 6-3, 195
#22 Amir Hinton- R-Freshman, Guard, 6-5, 180
#21 Brahieme Jackson- R-Senior, Forward, 6-3, 200
#23 Ra’eese Hunt- R-Junior, Forward, 6-7, 230
Preseason Notes:
The Bald Eagles earned a spot in their third straight PSAC Tournament last season (2015-16) after going 8-14 in PSAC play, earning them the sixth-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.
LHU will have two starters returning from last season. Brahieme Jackson had a stellar season last year and hopes to continue that this season. He averaged 11.1 points per game while grabbing 6.9 rebounds per game. Cole Renninger appeared in all 27 games while dishing out an average of 1.9 assists per game.
Lock Haven will also look to Ra’eese Hunt, and Craig Slade who each appeared in 26 games last season. Hunt averaged 9.8 points per game.
The Bald Eagles are also very excited to introduce five freshmen to the team. All five student athletes are from Pennsylvania including Jakwon McQueen who will add height by standing at 6-6.
The Haven will have a young team that will feature eight freshman/sophomore’s out of the 13 players on the roster.
