LOCK HAVEN, Pa. –  The Lock Haven University men's basketball team will take the court tomorrow, November 16, in non-conference season-opening action on the Thomas Fieldhouse floor at 7:30 p.m vs. Nyack.
 
When the Lock Haven University men's basketball team takes to the court tomorrow it will mark the first time in 624 days that the Bald Eagles have officially played as an LHU team.
 
The Bald Eagles are coming off a return trip to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs and a 12-15 season in 2019-20. That season was highlighted by two upset-wins over ranked opponents, including No. 12 West Chester and No. 24 Shippensburg.
 
As a team, the Bald Eagles poured in 80.5 points per game in 2019-20, which ranked fifth in the conference. LHU also controlled the glass all year, hauling in 38.7 rebounds per game. That mark put them at fourth in the PSAC for rebounds-per-game.
 
Lock Haven returns key forward Jesse McPherson (Philadelphia/ Archbishop Carroll). Now a senior, McPherson will command the offensive effort for Lock Haven as he led the team in field goal percentage at .546 with 125 field goals made. Back in 2019-20 he was third on the team in points (334), second on the team in blocks with 40 and notched 55 offensive rebounds throughout the campaign.
 
Guard Eli Washington (East Petersburg, Pa./Hempfield) also returns to the court this year for the Bald Eagles. In 2019-20, Washington was second on the team in assists with 63. McPherson and Washington are the lone returning starters from the 2019-20 PSAC tournament team that saw Lock Haven fall in the first round of the PSAC tournament to powerhouse West Chester.
 
LHU has played Nyack twice in the past decade and won on both occasions. Back in 2015, the Bald Eagles defeated Nyack 75-71 in the season's opener.
 
The GoLHU.com staff caught up with head coach Mike Nestor ahead of tomorrow's game, here's what he had to say:



PSAC Preseason Coaches' Poll:
 
Back on October 28, the PSAC announced the 2021-22 preseason coaches' poll. LHU enters the season ranked seventh in the PSAC Eastern Division Preseason Coaches' poll after the nearly two-year hiatus from competition.
 
Shippensburg sits atop the PSAC Eastern Division poll with seven first-place votes, while East Stroudsburg and West Chester round out the top three in the east. Millersville, Kutztown and Shepherd occupy the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 spots ahead of LHU. Lock Haven sits ahead of Bloomsburg and Mansfield who round out the poll.
 
In the Western Division, IUP sits ranked first with seven first-place votes as well. Mercyhurst and Pitt-Johnstown round out the top three.
 
Looking Ahead:
 
After tomorrow's game, the Bald Eagles will then host Chestnut Hill on Saturday (Nov. 20) at 3 p.m. and travel to Holy Family on Tuesday (Nov. 23).
 
LHU will return to PSAC play on Friday, December 3 when the Bald Eagles host the Edinboro Fighting Scots in conference opening action. The following day, the Bald Eagles will contend with PSAC West opponent Mercyhurst at home. Edinboro enters the season ranked eighth in the west, while Mercyhurst enters with a No. 2 ranking.