By james art RICHARDSON, TX (October 21, 2024) – The Lone Star Conference releases the 2024-25 men’s basketball preseason poll and Lubbock Christian University behind Player to Watch efforts Najeeb Mohammedthey are projected to finish third in the conference this season.
The Chaps were slated to finish third with four first-place votes. Only No.1 West Texas A&M and No.2 Dallas Baptist finished ahead of LCU. The Chaps are coming off a 23-11 season in which they advanced to the NCAA South Central Regional in Canyon, Texas. LCU was a finalist in the LSC Tournament and 16-6 in conference play (10-4 in the West Division to finish second in the division.
The Chaps return three of their top four offensive producers from last season. They will have to fill the shoes of Tyras Mortonwho was an all-region selection averaging 16.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game (led LCU in each category). Morton currently plays professionally in Spain-Segunda FEB for Zarnotza (Amorebieta-Etxano, Spain). It’s the return Ethan Duncan (14.8 points per game), Muhammad (13.6 points per game) and Aaron Gonzalez (10.4), each of which scored a double-digit number of points.
The Chaps bolstered their roster with several key additions, bringing both experience and depth. Alex Anamekue (Texas) and Amondo Miller Jr. (Colorado) join LCU with Division I experience. Miller Jr. is coming off a season at Fort Lewis College, part of a group of new players transferring from Division II programs. AJ Tower (Metro State), Jalen Thompson (Texas A&M International), Albert McBride Jr (Pittsburgh State) and Sean Murphy (Nebraska-Kearney) all bring valuable Division II experience. Murphy, who recorded six double-doubles last season with the Lopers, also has international experience, having competed for the New Zealand U-17 national team. The graduation of newcomers is Devin Bacasthe team’s only true freshman, hailing from Randall High School in Canyon, Texas, where he was part of their UIL State Tournament team last season.
Every program in the Lone Star Conference was recognized with a Player to Watch and Muhammad represents LCU. The returning all-conference team averaged 13.6 points, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
The third-place projection is LCU’s best projection since being picked to finish third in the 2022-23 LSC preseason poll. LCU received four first-place votes for the first time since they were slated to win the conference in 2021-22.
The men’s basketball season begins the weekend of Nov. 1-3 with five LSC teams playing in the D2CCA Tip-Off Classics. LCU will begin in the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic in Canyon, Texas and face Missouri Western on Nov. 1 at First United Bank Center (1:30 p.m.). The rest of the league begins the new season the weekend of Nov. 8-10 with interregional games against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponents. Conference play begins Nov. 21 in Lubbock against St. Edwards.
The Lone Star Conference presents its 51st men’s basketball tournament on March 7-8-9, 2025, played at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. The eight-team pool includes the winners of the East and West divisions, who receive automatic berths, with the remaining qualifiers and seeding based on results against all LSC teams. The Division II men’s basketball championship begins with regionals March 14-18 on campus and continues to the Elite Eight March 25-29 in Evansville, Indiana.