Westfield, Mass.— Bridgewater State is tabbed to win their first MASCAC Men’s Basketball  championship since the 2009-10 season in the 2024-25 preseason poll as voted by the coaches from around the league.

The Bears received four first place votes to secure the top spot in the poll. The team tied for second with a 9-3 league mark last season. Back for Bridgewater State is Dante Kikuba after he led the MASCAC with 4.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game and ranked fourth in 3-point shooting percentage (37.8) and eighth in scoring (14.3 points per game) to earn All-Conference accolades. 

 

Westfield State sits in the second slot with a first place vote. The Owls were also 9-3 during the conference clip in 2023-24. Lid Moreland is back after averaging 13.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while tallying 49 assists, 21 steals and five blocks while shooting 76.1 percent from the free throw line.

Worcester State is next in third with a first place vote. The Lancers were 10-2 last season to earn the MASCAC Regular Season and Tournament crowns. Under new head coach Al Pettway, the  Lancers return Brandon Goris who collected 195 points last season along with 57 rebouneds, 48 assists and 32 steals.

Grabbing the final first place vote is Salem State in fourth. The Vikings collected five MASCAC win last season. All-Conference honoree Michael Makiej returns after tallying 449 points which was fourth in the MASCAC with an 18.0 ppg average. His 7.8 rebounds per game average were second on Salem State and ranked fourth overall in the MASCAC. 

Up next in fifth is MCLA. The Trailblazers were 7-5 during the league slate in 2023-24. In his first season with MCLA, Hayden Morris-Gray tallied 200 points with 69 rebounds, 33 assists, 11 steals and seven blocks with a 79.1 free throw percentage.

Rounding out the 2024-25 preseason poll are Fitchburg State and Framingham State in sixth and seventh, respectively. The Falcons return Matthew Drayton who in his first year with the squad scored 227 points with 80 rebounds, 23 assists, 17 steals and four blocks. For the Rams, Joshua St. Jean  is back after in his first season  he averaged 10.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while collecting 12  assists, 12 steals and six blocks. 

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. Bridgewater State (4) - 33 points

2. Westfield State (1) - 29 points

3. Worcester State (1) - 26 points

4. Salem State (1) - 23 points

5. MCLA - 19 points

6. Fitchburg State - 9 points

7. Framingham State - 8 points