Men's Basketball | October 30, 2024

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The USCA men's basketball team has been selected fourth in the PBC Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the league office.

Coming off back-to-back PBC regular-season championships, head coach Mark Vanderslice's team picked up a pair of first-place votes and 59 total points.

Lander was selected first with 75 total points. The Bearcats had four first-place nods. Augusta was picked second with a pair of first-place votes and 68 total points. North Georgia secured one first-place vote and had 62 total points. Columbus State recorded the other first-place nod and was fifth with 50 total points.

Flagler (47 points), GCSU (28 points), Georgia Southwestern (27 points), Clayton State (18 points) and USC Beaufort (16 points) rounded out the poll.

Redshirt-senior Jalen McCoy was voted onto the PBC preseason all-conference team. A season ago, McCoy led USCA with 18.7 points per game while snagging 5.6 rebounds a night. The 2023-24 all-conference selection scored a career-high 35 points in the win at GCSU. He scored at least 20 points seven times, including two games above 30. 

Heading into his final season, McCoy is 10^th on the USCA Division II scoring list (1,143). He is fifth in field goals made (481). McCoy sits just outside the top-10 lists for career blocks, field goal percentage and games played.

The Pacers open their season Friday, Nov. 8 at UNC Pembroke. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at PacerSports.com. 

Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Lander (4) 75
2. Augusta (2) 68
3. North Georgia (1) 62
4. USC Aiken (2) 59
5. Columbus State (1) 50
6. Flagler 47
7. GCSU 28
8. Georgia Southwestern 27
9. Clayton State 18
10. USC Beaufort 16
 
2024-25 Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
 
Demitri Gardner, Augusta
Inady Legiste, Lander
Jalen McCoy, USCA
Brendan Rigsbee, Georgia College & State University
AJ White, North Georgia