NEWBERRY – The Newberry College men's basketball team is ready to begin the 2023-24 campaign with their first regular-season game this afternoon on the road against the Lander Bearcats. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 in Finis Horne Arena in Greenwood. Fans can follow along with
Live Stats and
Video.
The Wolves come into 2023-24 once again under the tutelage of Head Coach
Jason Taylor – this is Taylor's fifth season at the helm. Coach Taylor and the Wolves are coming off an impressive 19-10 season a year ago, with a 12-6 mark in South Atlantic Conference play and an appearance in the SAC Quarterfinals.
Both the 19 wins over Division II members and .667 winning percentage versus conference opponents are Newberry men's basketball records.
Newberry, ranked No. 3 in the SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, is returning several key players from that team, including All-Freshman selection
Caleb Byrd; sophomore forward
Drake Downs; juniors
Malik Joseph and
Devario Sheppard; and senior
Jalen Johnson.
The Wolves will also look for contributions from junior transfer
James Lovorn and sophomore
Bobby Taylor, a pair of guards, as well as senior
Booker Cusaac at forward.
In total, Newberry is slated for 25 games during the regular season, including 20 against conference foes. The Wolves' first game at Eleazer Arena is this Wednesday (Nov. 15) against Converse at 7 p.m.
Newberry's other three non-conference matchups include a road battle with Elizabeth City State (Nov. 21), a return to Eleazer on Nov. 29 against Francis Marion, and another road matchup with Fayetteville State on Dec. 30.
SAC play for the Wolves opens on Saturday, Dec. 2 on the road versus Lincoln Memorial, followed by another road game with UVA Wise on Dec. 9. The Wolves will return to Newberry for their first home conference game against Limestone on Dec. 13.
Scouting the Bearcats:
• Lander (0-1, 0-0 Peach Belt Conference) lost its first game of the season on the road against Tusculum Friday night, 83-77.
• All-Conference selection Jacob Cooper scored 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting with nine assists and five rebounds to lead the Bearcat effort.
• Inady Legiste added 15 points and four rebounds.
• Also registering double-figures was Ajang Aguek, with 11 points and four rebounds.
• The Bearcats were picked fourth of 10 in the Peach Belt Conference's Preseason Coaches' Poll.
