Commerce, Texas

The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball team was picked to finish second in the annual Lone Star Conference men's basketball preseason poll announced on Wednesday.

The Lions were picked to finish behind Central Oklahoma, who return two starters including preseason LSC North Division Player of the Year Sam Belt and five other letterwinners.

UCO collected 16 of 20 first-place votes to finish with 136 total points in the balloting of LSC coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives.

Texas A&M-Commerce was picked second in the poll with a first-place nod and 98 points, followed by Southwestern Oklahoma in third with 90, defending LSC North champion Southeastern Oklahoma in fourth with 85, Northeastern State fifth with 77, Cameron sixth with 40 and East Central seventh with 34.