AMCC Basketball Preseason Poll

2007-08 MEN'S BASKETBALL
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

LAKE ERIE, PENN ST. BEHREND
EXPECTED IN DEAD HEAT
FOR MEN'S BASKETBALL TITLE

The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference men's basketball coaches split down the middle in their annual preseason poll as to who will finish first in the league standings at year end. Votes were split between defending champion Lake Erie College and last year's runner-up Penn State Behrend for the top spot, while Hilbert College, a conference tournament semifinalist last season, was selected to come in third.

Preseason Player of the Year honors were awarded to Hilbert College senior guard Dallas Reinard (Smethport, PA/Smethport). Recently recognized as a preseason Honorable Mention All-American by DIII News, the monthly newsletter of Division III college men’s basketball, Reinard was the 2007 AMCC Player of the Year. He garnered numerous other accolades last season including ECAC Second Team South Region All-Star; D3Hoops.com All-East Region Second Team selection; and ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American. He averaged 22.4 ppg last season to lead the conference and rank #16 nationally in scoring.

The AMCC begins conference play on Wednesday, November 28. The conference championship will be Saturday, March 1 hosted by the top seed. The winner will receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

AMCC MEN'S BASKETBALL POLL
Preseason Rankings*

T-1. Lake Erie (1)
T-1. Penn St. Behrend (2)
3. Hilbert (4)
4. Pitt-Bradford (3)
5. Frostburg St. (5)
6. Medaille (7)
7. Penn St. Altoona (6)
8. La Roche (8)
9. Mount Aloysius (9)
10. Pitt-Greensburg (10)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2007

Preseason Player of the Year
DALLAS REINARD
Hilbert College

FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY Head Coach Webb Hatch (9th year) 2007: 9-9 AMCC, 10-16 overall
Senior G Dale DeBerry, Jr. (Upper Marlboro, MD/Riverdale Baptist)...The Bobcats' second leading scorer last season with 12.8 ppg while shooting 41.8% from the field and 80.9% from the line...also contributed 2.1 rpg, 1.6 apg and made 31 steals. Senior G/F Jermaine Kapombe (Washington, DC/Friendly)...At 6-1 he stepped up with 20 blocks in 2007...averaged 4.4 ppg (47.1 FG%) and 2.4 rpg.
HILBERT COLLEGE Head Coach Rob deGrandpre (6th year) 2007: 9-9 AMCC, 14-14 overall
Senior G Dallas Reinard (Smethport, PA/Smethport)...2007 AMCC Player of the Year...ECAC Second Team South Region All-Star...D3Hoops.com All-East Region Second Team selection...ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American...averaged 22.4 ppg last season to lead the conference and rank #16 nationally. Senior G Mike Reyes (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon)...Led the AMCC with 5.96 apg (167) and ranked #12 nationally...2.11 assist/turnover ratio was also best in the league.
LA ROCHE COLLEGE Head Coach Scott Lang (11th year) 2007: 6-12 AMCC, 8-17 overall
Senior F Rob Brisco (Waldorf, MD/La Plata)...Helped the Redhawks with 7.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg last season. Senior G Carlton Falconer (Pittsburgh, PA/Oliver)...No information provided.
LAKE ERIE COLLEGE Head Coach Cliff Hunt (3rd Year) 2007: 17-1 AMCC, 25-3 overall
Junior F Derrick Thornton (University Heights, OH/Lutheran East)...First team All-AMCC in 2007...averaged 16.0 ppg with a 59.3 FG%, good for #30 ranking in the nation...also contributed 6.4 rpg and shot 75% from the line. Junior F Darnell Campbell (Cleveland, OH/Collinwood)...Second team all-conference selection last season...shot 50% from the field while scoring 13.8 ppg and averaging 5.4 rpg.
MEDAILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Mike MacDonald (2nd Year) 2007: 7-11 AMCC, 11-14 overall
Senior G James McNeil (Erie, PA/Northwest Collegiate Academy)...A second team all-conference player last year, he ranked #3 in the AMCC in scoring with 18.3 ppg...also averaged 4.5 rpg. Junior F Bill Gersitz (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore East)...Steady performer close to the basket, he accounted for 11.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg, while shooting 53% from the field.
MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE Head Lance Loya (5th year) 2007: 5-13 AMCC, 9-16 overall
Senior F Sam Hanik (Windber, PA/Windber)...Finished second in the conference in rebounding with a 7.2 average...also ranked #7 in scoring with 16.9 ppg. Junior G Ben Murray (Doncaster, UK/McAuley)...Contributed 10.8 ppg for the Mounties...ranked #5 in the AMCC from three-point range (38.8 3FG%, 2.083FGM).
PENN STATE ALTOONA Head Coach Alan Seretti (3rd year) 2007: 8-10 AMCC, 10-16 overall
Senior F Quintin Dziabo (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria)...Honorable mention All-AMCC performer last season...ranked in the conference top 15 in 5 different statistical categories...the Lions' second leading scorer (13.6 ppg) and leading rebounder (6.2 rpg).
PENN STATE BEHREND Head Coach Dave Niland (14th year) 2007: 16-2 AMCC, 21-8 overall
Senior C Kevin Buczynski (Erie, PA/Villa Maria)...First team all-conference selection the past two seasons and the 2006 AMCC Player of the Year...ranked in the league's top 5 in points (17.7 ppg), rebounds (6.9 rpg), field goal percentage (59.2%) and blocks (1.41 bpg) last season. Sophomore G Justin Kovac (Pittsburgh, PA/Peters Twp.)...2007 AMCC Newcomer of the Year...ran the Behrend Lions' offense as a freshman, averaging 3.0 apg along with 7.6 ppg.
PITT-BRADFORD Head Coach Andy Moore (15th year) 2007: 10-8 AMCC, 14-13 overall
Senior F Mark Austin (Bradford, PA/Bradford)...The conference's leading rebounder last season with 7.5 rpg...also contributed 9.0 ppg. Senior F John Hannon (Bradford, PA/Bradford)...Two year starter for the Panthers, averaging 32.8 mins. last season...steady numbers included 7.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 2.0 apg.
PITT-GREENSBURG Head Coach Marcus Kahn (6th year) 2007: 3-15 AMCC, 3-22 overall
Senior F Ed Montgomery (Homestead, PA/Steel Valley)...Averaged 10.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 2007...shot 41% from the field and 33% from behind the arc...ranked #4 on the team in minutes played.