MATTHEWS, N.C. — The Lincoln Memorial University men’s basketball team was selected fifth in the Basketball Times NCAA Division II Preseason Top 20 poll, officials announced early Wednesday afternoon.

The Railsplitters earned this distinction following a 26-6 mark last season, which included the program’s second-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament along with their first NCAA Tournament win. The highlight of the 2011-12 campaign came in January, as the Railsplitters became the first team in school history and the first men’s basketball program in South Atlantic Conference history to ascend to the No.1 national ranking.

LMU is set to return ten letterwinners and eight of their top 11 scorers from that squad for the 2012-13 season. Leading that group, Vincent Bailey is back after leading the Railsplitters in scoring (10.9 per) and shooting percentage (62%), while finishing second on the team in rebounding (6.3 per) last season. Bailey earned All-SAC second team laurels for his efforts at the conclusion of last season and has been named to the preseason All-SAC first team.

Jake Troyli also returns for the Railsplitters after finishing fourth on the team in scoring (9.6 per) last season, while tallying 3.9 boards per game and shooting 48 percent from the field. The league’s coaches tabbed Troyli as a preseason All-SAC second team selection.

Competing in his final season at Lincoln Memorial, Cam Carden will continue to play a significant role for the Railsplitters this season. Carden finished fifth on the team last season in scoring (8.8 per) while leading the team with 63 three-pointers. Carden added 75 assists and 30 steals to his resume for the 2011-12 season.

The frontcourt will be bolstered by the return of Dustin Craig, Keenan Peterson and Jairocey Simpson, who all boast significant collegiate experience. Craig, a senior, heads that group after averaging 4.8 points while playing in all 32 games last year.

The backcourt will be headlined by the return of Wally Jones, Lorenza Ross, Chance Jones and C.J. Wakeley. Wally Jones contributed 7.1 points per game while tallying 45 assists and 21 steals last year while Ross made the SAC All-Freshman team after averaging 4.7 points per game.

The Railsplitters will also be strengthened by the additions of Tristan Hicks, Tim Pierce and Curtis McMillion to the 2012-13 roster.

Heading into the program’s fifth year under the direction of head coach Josh Schertz, the Railsplitters are in the midst of an unmatched run in the history of Lincoln Memorial basketball. Since Schertz took over the program, LMU has compiled an 87-32 mark and a 54-7 record in Tex Turner Arena. Over the last two seasons, the Railsplitters are 53-9 which stands as the best record in the South Atlantic Conference over that span.

The Railsplitters kick off the season on Tuesday as head down to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on defending ACC tournament champion Florida State in an exhibition contest. The regular season is set to open on Nov. 10th against Ohio Mid-Western in Tex Turner Arena at 8 p.m.

— — —

LMU to tip off basketball season with Dinner & a Doubleheader

HARROGATE, Tenn. — The Lincoln Memorial University Athletic Department will host Dinner and a Doubleheader at Tex Turner Arena on Saturday, Nov. 10. The LMU fundraiser includes a steak dinner and admission to the Lady Railsplitters’ game versus Coker and the Railsplitters’ season opener versus Ohio Mid-Western for $25.

Shiloh’s Steak House in London, Ky., will provide the steaks, while owner and LMU Baseball Alumnus Scott Smith will be manning the grill. Lincoln Memorial University Dining by Sodexo will provide the sides including potatoes, salad and bread as well as a cookie for dessert and beverages. The meal will be served around the lower level concourse from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

All Dinner and a Doubleheader attendees should park behind the arena and enter at the back. Reserve your steak by calling Director of Development for Athletics Dan Burns at (423) 869-6242 or by email at dan.burns@lmunet.edu.

Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or e-mail at admissions@lmunet.edu.

— — —