'Ville men's basketball voted fourth in PSAC East Preseason Poll

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Millersville men's basketball, the 2026 PSAC East champs, were selected fourth in the coaches' annual PSAC Eastern Division Preseason Poll.

Millersville has won three of the last five PSAC East crowns and at least 18 games in five consecutive seasons. In 2025-26, the Marauders went 20-9 and 15-6 against the PSAC with Day Waters winning the PSAC East Athlete of the Year award and Aamir Hurst winning the division's defensive athlete of the year award. Both players graduated and four starters and four double-figure scorers need replaced, however.

Votes in the East were widely distributed with West Chester picking up four first-place votes, East Stroudsburg earning three, and Shepherd earning one. In the Western Division, Gannon, which won the NCAA Championship last season, was the runaway favorite with eight first-place votes.

While Millersville saw turnover to its starting lineup, there are several familiar faces back in Black and Gold. Sophomore Carnell Henderson started nine games as a freshman and won the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week award late in the season. Senior point guard Dante Weise also started nine games and led the PSAC in assist/turnover ratio. Sophomore forward Jase Holland saw his role significantly expand down the stretch and appears primed for a breakout season. Junior Ethan Benne, a 6-6 forward, is in line for an opportunity this season as well.

Among Millersville's newcomers are Saint Francis transfer Brandon Russell, Concord transfer Josiah Rickards, and West Chester transfer Anthony Purnell. Veron Talla is a 6-7 wing who was an All-American for Penn State Mont Alto. DeMajh Salisbery, a guard and Lancaster, Pa., native, returns home after two seasons in the junior college ranks.

Millersville opens its season at Wilmington on Nov. 9 and then hosts the annual Ron Wilson Classic with D'Youville and Winston-Salem State on Nov. 13-14. Millersville's non-conference schedule also includes a road game against perennial CACC contender Jefferson on Nov. 18 and a home game against Fairmont State on Nov. 24. Fairmont State went 26-6 and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2025-26.

2026-27 PSAC Men's Basketball Preseason Polls (# of first place votes in parentheses)
EAST
1. West Chester (4)
2. East Stroudsburg (3)
3. Shepherd (1)
4. Millersville
5. Shippensburg
6. Bloomsburg
7. Kutztown
8. Mansfield

WEST
1. Gannon (8)
2. IUP
3. California (1)
4. Slippery Rock
5. Seton Hill
6. Pitt-Johnstown
7. Edinboro
8. Clarion
9. Lock Haven

Players Mentioned

Ethan Benne

Carnell Henderson

Jase Holland

Aamir Hurst

Anthony Purnell

Josiah Rickards

Brandon Russell

DeMajh Salisbery

Veron Talla

Day Waters

Dante Weise

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