LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Nov. 10, 2022) - Georgian Court Men's Basketball kicks off their season playing at the East Region Challenge.

Opponents (2021-22 Record)
Daemen Wildcats (20-9, 16-2 ECC)
Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks (12-13, 9-9 ECC)

Where
Amherst, N.Y. - Charles L. and Gloria B. Lumsden Gymnasium, hosted by Daemen University

When
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 11-12
Friday, Nov. 11 - 1 p.m. at Daemen
Saturday, Nov. 12 - 11 a.m. vs. Roberts Wesleyan

How to Watch
• Both games this weekend will be available to watch on the Daemen portal page of the ECC Network. There will also be live stats available at gculions.com.

So Far in 2022...
• Georgian Court did not play any official preseason exhibition matches. They did however compete in a handful of scrimmages against Division I Wagner and Saint Peter's and Junior College Middlesex County.
• The Lions were picked to finish sixth in the CACC South preseason coaches poll. 

In 2021-22
• Last season the Lions finished in sixth place in the CACC South Division with a 4-22 overall record and 3-15 league mark.
• The Lions were one of the better three-point shooting teams in the league last season, connecting on 36.7% from deep, good for third in the CACC. They were also fourth in free-throw percentage at 70.9%. Clint Wright, Jr. shot 44.4% from long range and was 92.5% from the FT line. 
• Defensively against the three, the Lions were fourth in the conference as opponents shot just 33.6% against them. 
• Georgian Court struggled to hold onto the ball where they lost it a league-leading 15.7 times per game. 
• GCU was one of the better teams at staying out of foul trouble. They were third in the conference in fewest fouls and fifth in fewest fouls per game.

Key Returners
• Georgian Court is bringing back four who started at least 15 games last season. 
• Clint Wright, Jr. was the team's leading scorer averaging 16 points per game. 
• Shane Williams started 19 games scoring 7.2 points and grabbing 5.8 rebounds.
• Titus Beard and Christian Armstrong-Thomas each started 15 games. Beard scored 5.7 ppg with 4.2 rebounds while Armstrong-Thomas added 4.8 points shooting 45% from the floor.•
• Also returning are Jelani Jackson, Andreas VonFricke, Donavin Crawford and Nasir Mclean who all saw action last season.

Newcomers
• The Lions brought in five true freshmen for this season, Charles Anyichie, Cameron Edmonds, Hassan Jackson, Justin Soranno and Andrew Tummings, Jr. 
• They are in addition to transfers Jalen Bates and Jamaal Waters. 

About the Opponents
• The Lions have a tall task to start the season against perennial East Region powerhouse Daemen. Prior to last season, the Wildcats made three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2021. 
• Last season Daemen went 20-9 and 16-2 in the ECC, advancing to the conference championship final.
• The Wildcats were picked to finish first in the ECC preseason coaches poll. 
• They return 10 players from last year's team, but graduated three-time All-American Andrew Sischo, the Wildcats all-time leading scorer and rebounder. 
• Seniors Ryan Salzberg and Nick MacDonald lead the Wildcat returners. Salzberg started 26 games in 2021-22 scoring 7.3 points per game and MacDonald averaged 20 minutes off the bench with 43 three-pointers.
• Junior Andrew Mason started 23 games and was third scoring 9.1 points per game with 56 three-pointers. 

Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks
• A year ago, Roberts Wesleyan posted a .500 conference record, 9-9 and were 12-13 overall.
• They advanced to the semifinals of the ECC Tournament where the season ended at the hands of No. 1 seed Saint Thomas Aquinas.
• To start the year, Roberts Wesleyan was picked to finish fifth in the nine-team league.
• The Redhaws return three double-digit point scorers. Ja'Kair Sanchez averaged 15.3 points per game a year ago.
• Rian Carter scored 13.4 and Abou Gbane added 10.4 per contest.
• Last season, Roberts Wesleyan scored more than 84 points per game but allowed 85.5.
• Teams shot 47.2% against Roberts Wesleyan overall and 36.3% from three.