Men’s Basketball Announces 2016-17 Schedule

Men's Basketball | 10/21/2016 12:00:00 AM

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(2016-17 schedule)

A new era gets underway for Goldey-Beacom's men's basketball team in 2016-17 and part of that includes playing against very tough competition, listed on the recently released schedule.

TJ Dekmar begins as the team's fifth head coach in the modern era and he does it against Division I Delaware on November 11 in Newark. The teams have met before in exhibition contests, but this is the first meeting that counts for the Lightning.

After the home opener two days later against Millersville, GBC opens Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play November 16 at home vs. Philadelphia U. Non-conference games before the end of the calendar year are highlighted by American International at home on November 27 and a visit to Millersville on New Year's Eve.

Goldey-Beacom has played solidly against Division I schools in exhibition contests and will put that to the test December 15 at Coppin State. GBC held a 15-point lead at Coppin State last November and shot 54 percent from the floor in the first half before being dealt an 80-73 loss. The squad later that month traveled to Morgan State and nearly rallied from a 13-point deficit in the last minute before it was handed a 66-62 setback.

GBC plays six league doubleheaders in the 2017 portion, starting with Caldwell on January 4. The squad hosts U. of the Sciences on February 15 and Wilmington three days later before ending the regular season February 21 at Chestnut Hill.

The conference quarterfinals are February 25 and both the semifinals and final will be held at Caldwell University from March 4-5.

The Lightning's top four scorers from last season return, paced by senior guard Shakeem Wilson (Brooklyn, NY). The only returnee to start all 27 games for the Lightning, he finished 10th in the CACC with 15.0 points per game, second with a .427 three-point percentage, 17th with a .727 free throw percentage and 21st with a .451 shooting percentage.

Sophomore guard Corey Taite (Sayreville, NJ), who was named to the City of Basketball Love Division II All-Rookie Team, can do it all whether with his scoring, passing or defense. He ended 14th in the country with 2.15 steals per game, 24th with 58 steals, led the CACC in both categories and closed 18th in the league with 13.9 points per contest.

Senior guard Sameen Swint (Sicklerville, NJ) is one of the team's most reliable scorers and enters the season with 819 collegiate points. Senior center Elijah Tillman (Garnerville, NY) is a potent threat on both sides of the court, entering the season fourth in team history with a .535 shooting percentage and eighth with 37 blocked shots.

Dekmar last season served as an assistant coach for the Lightning after spending three seasons as an assistant at Delaware Valley. He replaces Chuck Hammond, the program's winningest coach who also stepped down as Director of Athletics to become the College's new Dean of Students.

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Players Mentioned

#14 Sameen Swint: G; 6' 4"; Senior

#5 Corey Taite: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#32 Elijah Tillman: C; 6' 8"; Senior

#4 Shakeem Wilson: G; 6' 3"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#14 Sameen Swint
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

#5 Corey Taite
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: G

#32 Elijah Tillman
: 6' 8"; Senior
: C

#4 Shakeem Wilson
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G