Westfield, Mass.— After claiming the 2024-25 MASCAC Regular Season and Tournament titles, Westfield State is tabbed to repeat as this year’s champions as voted by the coaches from around the league.

The Owls received five of the eight first place votes to sit atop this year’s poll. Returning is Kenneth Rogers Jr. who burst on to the scene for the MASCAC Regular Season Champion Owls to earn not only MASCAC Player of the Year honors but Rookie of the Year. In his first season with the team, he averaged a league-leading 18.7 points, nine rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He was named the MASCAC Rookie of the Week 13 times this season while he amassed over 500 points and 250 rebounds last season alone.

Salem State sits in the second slot with a first place vote. The Vikings were 8-4 during the 2024-25 conference slate. Omri Merryman earned All-Conference accolades after he led the MASCAC in made three-pointers (80) and three-point percentage (44.9%). The guard finished seventh in the league in points per game (17.2) and his 151 made field goals ranked fifth. Merryman also ranked in the top-10 in the league in rebounds per game (5.1), blocks (16) and points (465). 

Bridgewater State and Worcester State are tied in third. The Bears had five wins in league action. Dante Kikuba averaged 14.5 points and led the team with 2.1 steals and was second on the team with 5.2 rebounds. Kikuba ranked fourth in the MASCAC in steals, ninth in rebounds and 11th in scoring while landing a spot on the All-Conference squad. 

The Lancers were 7-5 last season. Returning is Camdyn Shoesmith who was second in the MASCAC with a 56.5 field goal percentage and offensive rebounds with 83. He also averaged eight points per game with 192 rebounds and 26 assists.  

Coming in fifth is Framingham State. The Rams collected six MASCAC wins with Joshua St. Jean leading the way after he finished the season leading the league in field goal percentage (61.4%) and third in rebounding (8.8 rpg). Saint Jean ranked seventh in the MASCAC in points per game (14.2) and led the league in offensive rebounds as he grabbed 88 offensive boards this season.

Grabbing the sixth place slot is Fitchburg State. Jalen Jackson returns after sitting in the top five in several categories, including field goal percentage (51.7), offensive rebounds (66), total rebounds (160) and rebounds per game (7.3) while averaging 14 points per game.

Rounding out the 2025-26 preseason poll are Anna Maria and MCLA in sixth and seventh, respectively. The AMCATS join the MASCAC for their first season and returning after a successful rookie campaign, the AMCATS will look to sophomore guard Nolan Serafin to build on his 7.4 points per game, after shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from beyond the arc, including double-digit scoring in three of his final four games. For the Trailblazers, Craig Williams returns after he averaged 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds,  and two assists per game while shooting 82.5 percent from the free throw line.

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

 

 

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Westfield State (5) - 52 points

2. Salem State (1) - 40 points

3. Bridgewater State (2) - 36 points

    Worcester State - 36 points

5. Framingham State - 23 points

6. Fitchburg State - 16 points

7. Anna Maria - 13 points

8. MCLA - 8 points