SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team opens the new campaign on November 10, and they'll be looking to build on last season's 9-16 record and vie for a spot in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in February.
The 'Roos bring almost all of last season's top contributors, and head coach Rodney Wecker has bolstered his squad with a talented and athletic group of newcomers. Leading the way will be Tristan Dick, who is back for his fifth season and enters the year with a career scoring average of 11.3 points-per-game, while also averaging 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals-per-game. The athletic wing is a former All-SCAC player, and will be looked to once again to stuff the stat sheet this season. Austin College brings back another All-SCAC performer in Jason Jones Jr., a 6-foot-4 forward whose strength and athleticism have made him one of the conference's top rebounders with a career average of 7.0 rebounds-per-game. Through his first three years, he's averaging 8.1 points-per-game, while also shooting 54.2% from the field for his career.
Austin College will be looking for more senior leadership from Joshua Joe, who started every game at point guard a year ago while averaging a career-best 9.6 points and finishing near the top of the SCAC with 3.2 assists-per-game. Chase Antosca is another experienced senior guard who has appeared in 57 games in his career, averaging 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds-per-game during his time in Sherman. Christian Luera and T'Cory James round out the senior class and give Wecker even more depth and talent at the guard position.
The 'Roos will also bring back a trio of juniors in Jackson Rennie, Ocie Berry, and Kaleb Bennett, who all have starting experience during their time at Austin College. Rennie has also developed into one of the most dangerous three-point shooters in the conference, having made 112 threes during his first two seasons while averaging 11.4 points-per-game for his career. Wecker's team also features a strong sophomore class, with Jordan Hudgins, Kidus Getenet, Nate Williams, and Ethan Pearce all logging significant minutes last year while Jacob Jackson joins the class as a transfer. All four rising sophomores logged at least one start last year, with Getenet starting 19 games on the wing while averaging 6.8 points while Hudgins averaged 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Williams came off the bench for most of the year but averaged 7.0 points while Pearce averaged nearly a block-per-game and brings length and athleticism to the forward position.
Austin College will also welcome a strong group of newcomers in the freshman class, including 6-foot-3 guards Price Bradley and Jamien June, along with 6-foot-5 wing Austin Lawrence and 6-foot-4 forward Fred Nnyina. All four players should have an opportunity to make a splash early as the 'Roos battle up the SCAC standings throughout the course of the season.
The 'Roos open the 2023-24 campaign on the road on November 10, when they head to Howard Payne for a 6:00 p.m. tipoff before returning to Sherman for their home opener on November 14 against Ozarks. That game is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. in Hughey Gym.