Golden Tigers’ Eads named preseason All-Conference
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (goldentigersports.com) — Tuskegee University sophomore guard James Eads was named to the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason All-Conference team, announced Thursday during Media Day at Bill Harris Arena.
Eads scored in double figures 15 times as a true freshman, including nine times in conference play. He also scored 20 or more points four times, all in conference play and scored a career-high 24 against LeMoyne-Owen. Eads finished in the top 20 in scoring in the conference, and had the highest three-point field goal percentage of the season in the conference at 85.7 (6-of-7) against LeMoyne-Owen.
Meanwhile Terrance Bridgeman of Lane was voted the 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and Austin Lawton of Claflin was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
The preseason honors and predicted order of finish are voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Joining Eads, Bridgeman and Lawton on the 2016 SIAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Team are Justin Street (LeMoyne-Owen), Rashawn Brown (LeMoyne-Owen), Demba Konate (LeMoyne-Owen), Kendarius Ash (Lane), Ryan McNeil-Moses (Claflin), Malcolm Smith (Kentucky State), Tim Sanders (Clark Atlanta), Kaderious Compton (Paine), and D’Areial Franklin (Fort Valley).
Benedict finished first in the east division preseason poll. The Tigers received 80 points in the poll along with six first place votes. Claflin (78) was picked second and garnered four first place votes. Morehouse was picked third with 70 points and a pair of first place votes. Clark Atlanta (46) was fourth, ahead of Fort Valley (35) who garnered one first place vote, followed by Albany State (34), and Paine (24).
Lane led the west division with 78 points and five first place votes. Miles was picked second with 71 points and two first place votes. With 62 points and three first place votes, LeMoyne-Owen followed in third ahead of Tuskegee (59) who earned two first place votes. Central State (36) was fifth followed by Kentucky State (32) who received one first place vote. Spring Hill was picked seventh and finished with 26 points in the poll.
