Bridgeman, Lawton lead 2016 SIAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Honors
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (October 6, 2016) – Terrance Bridgeman of Lane was voted the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and Austin Lawton of Claflin was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced on Thursday during Media Day at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala.
The preseason honors and predicted order of finish are voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Bridgeman, a 6’3 senior guard from South Bend. Ind., averaged 16.0 points per game last season which ranked fifth in the SIAC. He shot 43.0 percent from the field and ranked third in the league in steals with 2.1 a game. Bridgeman averaged 3.1 rebounds per game and was a member of the 2015-16 SIAC Men’s Basketball All-Conference team. Additionally, he scored 20 or more points on eight occasions last season.
Lawton, the 2015-16 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 7.0 rebounds a game last season which ranked sixth in the conference. Lawton, a 6’9 redshirt-sophomore from Eutawville, S.C. averaged 7.9 points a game and recorded five double-doubles last year. He led the SIAC in blocks (2.9/game) last season which was eighth in the NCAA.
Joining Bridgeman and Lawton on the 2016 SIAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Team are Justin Street (LeMoyne-Owen), Rashawn Brown (LeMoyne-Owen), Demba Konate (LeMoyne-Owen), Kendarius Ash (Lane), Ryan McNeil-Moses (Claflin), Malcolm Smith (Kentucky State), Tim Sanders (Clark Atlanta), James Eads (Tuskegee), Kaderious Compton (Paine), and D’Areial Franklin (Fort Valley).
Benedict finished first in the east division preseason poll. The Tigers received 80 points in the poll along with six first place votes. Claflin (78) was picked second and garnered four first place votes. Morehouse was picked third with 70 points and a pair of first place votes. Clark Atlanta (46) was fourth, ahead of Fort Valley (35) who garnered one first place vote, followed by Albany State (34), and Paine (24).
Lane led the west division with 78 points and five first place votes. Miles was picked second with 71 points and two first place votes. With 62 points and three first place votes, LeMoyne-Owen followed in third ahead of Tuskegee (59) who earned two first place votes. Central State (36) was fifth followed by Kentucky State (32) who received one first place vote. Spring Hill was picked seventh and finished with 26 points in the poll.
2016 SIAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Team
Preseason Player of the Year
Terrance Bridgeman, Lane
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Austin Lawton, Claflin
Terrance Bridgeman *
Lane
6’3 | Senior | Guard
South Bend, Ind.
Austin Lawton *
Claflin
6’9 | R-So. | Center
Eutawville, S.C.
Kendarius Ash *
Lane
6’7 | R-So. | Forward
Decatur, Ga
Justin Street *
LeMoyne-Owen
6’6 | Senior | G/F
Memphis, Tenn.
Rashawn Brown
LeMoyne-Owen
6’6 | Junior | G/F
Memphis, Tenn.
Ryan McNeil-Moses
Claflin
6’4 | Senior | Forward
Washington, D.C.
Malcolm Smith
Kentucky State
6’2 | Junior | Guard
Cincinnati, Ohio
Tim Sanders
Clark Atlanta
6’2 | Senior | Guard
Memphis, Tenn.
James Eads
Tuskegee
6’4 | Sophomore | G/F
Orlando, Fla.
Kaderious Compton
Paine
5’9 | Senior | Guard
Memphis, Tenn.
D’Areial Franklin
Fort Valley
6’5 | Senior | G/F
Gadsden, Ala.
Demba Konate
LeMoyne-Owen
6’9 | Senior | C/F
Bamako, Mali
* Indicates returner from the 2015-16 SIAC All-Conference Team
Predicted Order of Finish
East
1. Benedict (80) - 6 first place votes
2. Claflin (78)- 4 first place votes
3. Morehouse (70) - 2 first place votes
4. Clark Atlanta (46)
5. Fort Valley State (35) - 1 first place vote
6. Albany Staste (34)
7. Paine (24)
West
1. Lane (78) - 5 first place votes
2. Miles (71) - 2 first place votes
3. LeMoyne-Owen (62) - 3 first place votes
4. Tuskegee (59) - 2 first place votes
5. Central State (36)
6. Kentucky State (32) - 1 first place vote
7. Spring Hill (26)
(Points in parenthesis)
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BRITNEY D. REDDICK
Assistant Commissioner for New Media & Communications| Southern
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)
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