Complete Game Notes as a PDF

A NEW SEASON BEGINS
The Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team opens its 2008-09 season on the road. The team will travel to Bridgeport, Conn. on Saturday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov. 16 in tournament action. The Owls will open the season against Bridgeport at 3 p.m. on Nov. 15. They will travel back to Bridgeport for their second game of the tournament on Nov. 16 against New York Tech at 6 p.m.

RETURNING A STRONG LINEUP
SCSU will look for its veterans to lead the team this season as they welcome back 10 returning players from last year's squad. Three of the team's top four scorers in 2007-08 return to the team's lineup, including seniors Justin Gardenhire and Preston Bell, as well as junior Trevor Harris.

WELCOME ABOARD
The Owls welcome three newcomers to this year's team including freshmen Chris Harris, Kieran Ramsey and Liam Smith.

IN THE NORTHEAST-1O PRESEASON POLL
The Owls have been ranked No. 15 in this year's Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches Poll.

TOP ASSISTS LEADERS RETURNING
Returning to the Owls' lineup this season are the top three assists leaders from the 2007-08 campaign. Junior Trevor Harris led the team with 103 assists. Senior Justin Gardenhire was second on the team with 70 and senior Preston Bell was third with 43.

DEFENSIVE PRESENCE
The Owls welcome back their junior center John Mazzarella. Mazzarella led the team in blocks last season with 37. His presence down low will be a key contribution to the Owls this season.

SETTING THE STANDARD
A trio of first year Owls in 2007-08, Andrew Zito, Lance Long and Tocari Davis, set career highs in the team's Feb. 16 game at Bryant. Zito scored a career-high 10 points. Long netted six points to mark a new career-best and also dished out a career-high three assists. Davis matched his career-high of eight points and set career highs in rebounds and assists with five of each. Davis played every minute of the game before fouling out with 22 seconds remaining.

RUNNING THE POINT
In 2007-08, Trevor Harris dished out a career-high 11 assists against Pace on Feb. 13. The Nanuet, N.Y. native was the Owls leading assist man on the season, as he dished out 102 dimes. Harris also led the 2006-07 club with 3.3 assists per game.

AN OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
In the 2007-08 campaign, the Owls scored a season-high 89 points in their win over Dominican on Dec. 28. Preston Bell led the offensive effort with a career-high 22 points. The Owls' previous season-high of 80 points came in the team's season opening loss to St. Anselm on Nov. 17. Southern Connecticut last scored 89 or more points in a game on Feb. 4, 2006 in a 102-92 overtime loss at Merrimack. SCSU last scored 89 or more points in a 40 minute contest on Feb. 25, 2003, when they defeated Le Moyne by a score of 91-75.

ON DECK
The Owls will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 19 when they travel to Saint Michael's for their first Northeast-10 Conference game. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.