HICKORY, N.C. - Head coach Brent Owen and the Lenoir-Rhyne men's basketball team have been selected to finish first in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.

Lincoln Memorial, Catawba, Tusculum, and Carson-Newman rounded out the top-five teams. Lincoln Memorial tied the Bears with five first-place votes.

Lenoir-Rhyne has become a SAC and Southeast Region power in the past two years, going 50-15, winning the 2025-26 SAC and Southeast Region Championship, winning five total NCAA postseason games, producing six All-SAC players and two SAC Newcomers of the Year.

The Bears have a strong mix of returners and newcomers, with Deuce Benjamin and Jaylen Subject being listed as SAC Preseason Players to Watch. 

Coach Owen and his squad open the season at home on Monday, November 9th, when they host Young Harris in Shuford Arena at 6:00 p.m. The Bears and Mountain Lions met last season in the NCAA Second Round, a game that saw the Bears win 84-78 to advance to the program's third ever Southeast Region Championship game.

2026-27 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Lenoir-Rhyne - 115 points (5 first-place votes)
2. Lincoln Memorial - 111 points (5 first-place votes)
3. Catawba - 103 points (1 first-place vote)
T4. Tusculum - 80 points (1 first-place vote)
T4. Carson-Newman - 80 points
6. Wingate - 74 points
7. UVA Wise - 56 points
8. Emory & Henry - 44 points
9. Newberry - 41 points
10. Coker - 36 points
11. Mars Hill - 34 points
12. Anderson - 18 points

2026-27 SAC Men's Basketball Players to Watch
Anderson: Kendall Davis, Kory Davis
Carson-Newman: Matt Bilbrey, Sean Lindsay
Catawba: Carson Daniel, Chase Daniel
Coker: Khalil Green, Kenney Rogers
Emory & Henry: Melchior Hughes, Isaac Hymes
Lenoir-Rhyne: Deuce Benjamin, Jaylen Subject
Lincoln Memorial: Kam Roberts, Trey Horton III
Mars Hill: Keenan Wilkins, Ashton Troutman
Newberry: Mary Kate Grant, Sanae Graham
Tusculum: Jordan Attia, Amari Allen
UVA Wise: Cy Hardy, Anderson Cummins
Wingate: Jordan Miller, Chase McKey