On November 7, 2022, Lions men’s basketball will kick off their season against Oakwood in Flowers Hall.

Since last season, the Lions staff has undergone a few changes as well as players. This will be the Lions first season since being officially established into Division I.

Fans are hoping basketball establishes their credibility after this unfortunate football season. Coaches are describing this season as a new era and are excited to see what players bring to the table this season. After a 9-21 record last season, fans are curious to see where the season will go this year.

With familiar players returning such as Daniel Ortiz, Will Soucie and Damian Forrest, the Lions are expecting big things this season.

According to roarlions.com, last season, Ortiz averaged 14.4 points per game and was 11th in ASUN scoring. He was also the top freshman scorer in the league.

Soucie is a great player for steals and assists. Last season, he had 21 steals, 28 assists and 7 blocked shots. Averaging almost 19 minutes per game, he is only a sophomore and is statistically getting better each season.

Forrest was 12th in the ASUN last season with 22 blocked shots and a 44.4 percent shot from floor rate. Adding to these stats, he averaged 5.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

These are just a few players to watch out for this season.

There is a lot going on in November for Lions basketball. Kicking off the season on November 7th at home against Oakwood, the Lions will then play seven more games throughout the month. Some of those opposing teams consist of Georgia Tech, Memphis, Alabama A&M and MS Valley.

There will be 13 home games this year, many of which are for the ASUN Conference. With the Lions officially being established into Division I, fans are curious to see if they will hold up to the new status this season.

The Lions can play for titles, play better teams and show that they belong in Division I. Fan encouragement also plays into how far the Lions get. With 13 home games, filling Flowers Hall with fans is bound to make this season a lot better for the Lions. Students get in for free, so be sure to show up as much as you can to support Lions basketball.