Men's Basketball will open their season on Friday, Nov. 1 against Bryan College JV looking to repeat as TCCAA Champions. Their season-opening tip-off is set for 7:00 ET.
It was quite the magical season for the Cougars last year. After winning four straight games in the TCCAA Tournament to capture the crown with a 70-58 victory over Roane State on their home floor as hosts, the Cinderella story continued. Cleveland State became the first 24th seed in NJCAA history to win a game in the national tournament, knocking off ninth-seeded Casper College. Though they suffered a loss to Ranger College in the next round, the Cougars definitely have momentum to build off of coming into the season.
Cleveland State will return four members of that 2018-2019 championship team this season. Demonte Person, Jaquez Hicks, and Kerry Pratt will all suit up for the Cougars this winter, but unfortunately, they will be without the talents of Maurice Dickson, who suffered an injury.
"We will miss [Dickson's] presence on the floor and what he gave us in productivity in all areas," said head coach Lee Cigliano. "Our other returning sophomores… gave us quality minutes either as a starter or a non-starter last season."
The newcomers will be another huge storyline of the season for the Cougars. Cleveland State added sophomore transfers Jakobey Hitchens, from LSU-Eunice, and Jadakiss Williams, from Itawamba, this offseason, which will provide more leadership on the court. The rotation will feature nine incoming freshman, who Cigliano says Cleveland State will be, "counting on… this year."
Cigliano is well-aware, though, of the challenges the Cougars will face with the number of impact players that graduated last season. "We lost probably about 85% of our scoring and rebounding," he said. "but, if we improve, we will be okay. If we make the necessary efforts, the season will take care of itself."
The Cougar head coach does not like to place expectations in terms of a season record on himself, his staff, or his players, but he did have this to say about what he desires to see in 2019-2020. "As always, the TCCAA will be challenging. Our goal will be what it always is and that is to improve as the season develops and hopefully by February, we will be a much better team than where we are now."
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