ROCK HILL, S.C. – Queens University of Charlotte has been picked to finish third the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Championship as voted by the League's head coaches. The Royals picked up one top vote and received 113 points from the panel. Lincoln Memorial was voted to win the championship grabbing nine first place votes, while Carson-Newman came in second with two top votes.
 
The Royals completed the 2014-15 season in third place with a 17-13 overall record and a 13-9 league record. After defeating Wingate in the quarterfinal round of the SAC Championships, they battled with Lincoln Memorial in the semifinals coming up short as they fell 67-64. This season Queens returns a group of players responsible for 70 of the 77 points they averaged last season, which only puts them in position to be a threat to their regional opponents. Additionally, the Royals will continue to feature an offense highlighted by their team motto, "we make plays for each other," which was the basis for them posting a shooting percentage of 49-percent last year.
 
In addition to releasing the preseason poll, the conference released preseason all-conference teams which featured Rob Lewis and Sean Morgan on the first team. Lewis, a guard, was named to the 2015 SAC All-Conference Second Team and the 2015 NCCSIA All-State Second Team after a season where he averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting 44-percent from the floor and 36.3-percent from the behind the arc. Not only did he lead the Royals in points per game, total points and three-point field goals made, but he also shared the ball leading the team in assists with 117 on the year. At the close of the season he was ranked sixth in the SAC in scoring.
 
Morgan, a forward, was also named to the 2015 SAC All-Conference Second Team after averaging 14.1 points per game while shooting a team leading 59.6-perecent from the floor. He also averaged 6.5 rebounds and recorded six double-doubles during the year. Morgan led the Royals in rebounding average and total rebounds, and ranked third in the league in field goal percentage and ninth in rebounding average. He completed the year with the 25th best field goal percentage in the nation.
 
Fans will have a chance to see the Royals in action in an exhibition game on Sunday, November 1 at 2 p.m. against Hampden Sydney College. The first regular season game will take place on November 14 at Flagler College. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. For the full 2014-2016 schedule, click here.
 
Men's Preseason Poll - Points
1.       Lincoln Memorial – 128
2.       Carson-Newman – 115
3.       Queens – 113
4.       Wingate – 97
5.       Newberry – 93
6.       Catawba – 93
7.       Coker – 61
8.       Anderson – 60
9.       Lenoir-Rhyne – 57
10.    Tusculum – 51
11.    Mars Hill – 30
12.    Brevard – 27
 
Men's First Team
Carson Brooks, Carson-Newman
Luquon Choice, Lincoln Memorial
Rob Lewis, Queens
Sean Morgan, Queens
Chase Mounce, Tusculum
Charles Clark, Carson-Newman
 
Men's Second Team
Jerrin Morrison, Catawba
Gerel Simmons, Lincoln Memorial
Donte Samuels, Coker
Miles Leathers, Brevard
Will Perry, Lenoir-Rhyne
Javon Price, Tusculum