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Men’s Basketball Picked Second in 2025-26 OVC Preseason Poll

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Southeast Missouri was picked second in the 2025-26 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Poll Tuesday during the league's annual media day at the DoubleTree Hotel.
 
For only the third time in program history, SEMO was voted as high as second in the league's preseason poll. The Redhawks were tied for second with then-OVC member Austin Peay in the 1999-2000 version and second overall (first in the West Division) in the 2013-14 predicted order of finish.
 
Little Rock, which was eliminated by SEMO in the semifinals of the 2025 OVC Tournament, is the preseason favorite. The Trojans received 188 points and 12 of the possible 22 first-place votes.
 
The Redhawks tallied 177 points and six first-place nods. SEMO went 21-12 overall and 15-5 in OVC play en route to its first-ever outright regular-season title and double bye in the league's postseason tournament a year ago.
 
SIU Edwardsville (163 pts.), Tennessee State (135 pts.), Lindenwood (100 pts.) and Morehead State (100 pts.) complete the top six.
 
Tennessee Tech (80 pts.), UT Martin (79 pts.), Southern Indiana (67 pts.), Eastern Illinois (63 pts.) and Western Illinois (57 pts.) round out the balloting.
 
Forward Brendan Terry is one of five returning All-OVC players. Terry, a Second-Team selection, was SEMO's third-leading scorer with 11.2 points per game in 2024-25.  He started all 33 games and finished second on the team with 4.5 rebounds per contest. Terry scored double figures in 18 of his starts, as well.
 
Guards Braxton Stacker and BJ Ward are also among the OVC's players to watch. 
 
Stacker rated fourth on the team in scoring with 8.9 points and third in rebounding with 3.1 boards per game last season. He came off the bench in 26 of his 27 games played.
 
Meanwhile, Ward was fifth behind Stacker with 8.4 points per game in 32 starts. He drained 51 three-pointers which were good for second-most on the team. Ward also added 74 assists and 30 steals.
 
SEMO tips off its season at Saint Louis on Nov. 3.

2025-26 OVC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
Little Rock (12 first-place), 188
Southeast Missouri (6), 177
SIUE (1), 163
Tennessee State (1), 135
Lindenwood, 100
Morehead State, 100
Tennessee Tech, 80
UT Martin, 79
Southern Indiana (2), 67
Eastern Illinois, 63
Western Illinois, 57

RETURNING ALL-OVC PLAYERS
Jadis Jones, G, So. - Lindenwood
Johnathan Lawson, G, R-Sr. - Little Rock 
Tuongthach Gatkek, F, Grad. - Little Rock
Brendan Terry, F, Sr. - Southeast Missouri
Aaron Nkrumah, G, Sr. - Tennessee State

MEN'S PLAYERS TO WATCH

Eastern Illinois
Kooper Jacobi, F, Grad.
Zion Fruster, G, Sr.

Lindenwood
Anias Futrell, G, Sr.
Mekhi Cooper, G, Jr.

Little Rock
Kachi Nzeh, F, Jr.
Braxton Bayless, G, Grad.

Morehead State
Davion Cunningham, G, R-Jr.
Chase Dawson, G, So.

Southeast Missouri
BJ Ward, G, Jr.
Braxton Stacker, G, Sr.

SIU Edwardsville
Arnas Sakenis, C, Sr.
Ring Malith, G/F, Sr.

Southern Indiana
Trey Thomas, G, Sr.
Ismail Habib, G, Jr.

Tennessee State
Khalil London, G, R-So.
Carlous Williams, F, Grad.

Tennessee Tech
JaJuan Nicholls, F, Jr.
Mekhi Cameron, G, Grad.

UT Martin
Afan Trnka, G, Jr.
Lamine Niang, F, R-Jr.

Western Illinois
Lucas Lorenzen, G, Jr.
Antwaun Massey, F, Sr.

 
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Players Mentioned

Braxton  Stacker

#44 Braxton Stacker

G
6' 5"
Senior
Brendan Terry

#15 Brendan Terry

F
6' 7"
Senior
BJ Ward

#2 BJ Ward

G
6' 0"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Braxton  Stacker

#44 Braxton Stacker

6' 5"
Senior
G
Brendan Terry

#15 Brendan Terry

6' 7"
Senior
F
BJ Ward

#2 BJ Ward

6' 0"
Junior
G