Westfield, Mass.— Reigning MASCAC Regular Season and Tournament Champion Salem State has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2019-20 MASCAC Men’s Basketball Championship as voted on by the seven coaches from around the league.

The Vikings received five first place votes for 35 points. They finished last season 10-2 in league play and return 2018-19 MASCAC Player of the Year and All-Conference honoree Sean Bryan. Last season, Bryan led the conference in points per game (25.3), total points (707) and assists (153) while netting 226 total rebounds (8.1 per game) and an 83.4 free throw percentage. 

Up next in second is Westfield State with the final two first place votes for 31 points.  The Owls were 8-4 during MASCAC action last season. Forward Jauch Green Jr., earned a spot on the MASCAC First Team All-Conference squad last year after averaging 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.2 assists per game. 

Bridgewater State sits in the third slot with 25 points. The Bears were 6-6 during the conference clip in 2019. Back on the hardwood for Bridgewater State is Rayshon Ward who averaged 17.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 blocks on his way to a spot on the All-Conference team.  

Landing in fourth with 23 points is Fitchburg State. The Falcons finished 7-5 in league play last season. Nicholas Tracy was the leading scorer for the team, averaging 14.2 points per game while also collecting 110 rebounds, 81 assists and 33 steals on his way to All-Conference accolades.   

Up next in fifth is Worcester State with 15 points. The Lancers had four wins during the conference campaign last season. Back for the squad is All-Conference honoree Tyler Dion who averaged 15.6 points, 2.79 assists, 2.5 rebounds while shooting 84.3 percent from the line  and 39 percent from beyond the arc.

Rounding out the 2019-20 preseason poll are Framingham State and MCLA in sixth and seventh with 12 and six points, respectively.  The Rams had five wins last season and returning for them is Tyri Hampton. He netted 224 points, 161 rebounds, 19 assists and 15 steals during the 2018-19 season. The Trailblazers collected two wins during league action and bring back  Mike DeMartinis who led the team in points per game with 13.8 while also registering 85 rebounds, 32 steals and 23 assists with a 82.7 free throw percentage.  

The MASCAC men’s basketball teams return to the hardwood over the next few weeks with their opening non-conference contests. Follow all the games at mascac.com

 

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1.	Salem State	(5)	35
2.	Westfield State	(2)	31
3.	Bridgewater State		25
4.	Fitchburg State		23
5.	Worcester State		15
6.	Framingham State		12
7.	MCLA		6