Men’s Basketball Voted Eighth in AMCC Preseason Poll

Men’s Basketball Voted Eighth in AMCC Preseason Poll

NORTH BOSTON, N.Y. – Penn State Altoona men's basketball has been predicted to finish in eighth place in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference standings this upcoming season, as the league released the results of its 2019-20 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday.

La Roche University, which finished first in the conference's regular season standings last year, was voted first in the poll. Mount Aloysius College took second place, and defending AMCC Tournament champion Penn State Behrend was selected to finish third.

Penn State Altoona men's basketball compiled an 8-17 overall record last year, including a 6-12 mark in the AMCC that tied the team for seventh place in the regular season standings. Fourth-year head coach David McGreal and the Lions will look to exceed expectations this season with a roster featuring seven upperclassmen.

Named as "Players to Watch" in the poll were senior center Cameron Gardner-Nicholson (Philadelphia, PA/Boys' Latin Charter) and senior guard/forward Austin Krise (Allport, PA/West Branch).

Gardner-Nicholson is coming off of a 2018-19 season in which he was voted the AMCC Defensive Player of the Year and took third team All-Conference honors. He led the AMCC in blocks (71) and blocks per game (3.0), as well as field goal percentage (64.2%). Gardner-Nicholson was also third in the conference in defensive rebounds (157), total rebounds (235), and rebounds per game (9.8), and he averaged 10.6 points per game.

Krise was fourth in the AMCC last season in steals per game (1.9), fifth in total steals (48), and 10th in field goal percentage (50.0%). He averaged 9.0 points per game while grabbing 4.2 rebounds per game.

Penn State Altoona men's basketball starts its 2019-20 season on the road this Saturday, November 9, when the Lions travel to face non-conference opponent Bethany College at 4:00 p.m. The team's home opener follows on Saturday, November 16, when Penn State Altoona hosts non-conference foe Juniata College at 2:00 p.m.

To view the complete AMCC Preseason Poll, click HERE.