BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College men's basketball team is scheduled to open its 2014-15 season at the Gettysburg College Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16 with a contest versus the host Bullets slated for Saturday at 8:00 p.m. to kick off the campaign. The tournament will continue on Sunday with the consolation game at 2:00 p.m. and the championship contest at 4:00 p.m.
Head Coach Jim Walker enters his 35th season with 12 returning players and three student-athletes with starting experience from last year's 12-13 squad.
Leading the returnees is senior guard Izel Dickerson, who paced the Hounds last season in scoring at 14.2 points per game, and he also had team-highs of 57 assists, 26 steals and 31 three-pointers while playing in 23 games. Dickerson also led the team at the foul line, making 102-of-135 attempts, and he added 64 rebounds while averaging 33.0 minutes per game. Dickerson enters his senior season with 694 career points after 327 in his junior campaign.
Senior forward Garrett Kashmer also enters his fourth season at Moravian, and Kashmer is serving as a team captain this winter along with Dickerson. Kashmer played in all 25 games a year ago, contributing 75 rebounds, 56 points, 18 assists and seven blocked shots.
Junior guard Jarrod Dilts returns to the Greyhounds' starting line-up after being in the starting rotation in 12 of the 20 games he played in. Dilts averaged 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game to go with 23 assists, 26 steals, 11 blocked shots and 26 three-pointers in 2013-14.
Sophomore guard Isaiah Jennings was in the starting five for 11 games last season, and he played in all 25 games in his rookie campaign. Jennings will be looked at as the starting point guard this year after contributing 68 points, 46 rebounds, 35 assists and 25 steals a year ago.
Sophomore forward Brandon McGuire is expected to be in the starting line-up for the Hounds this season, and he contributed 69 points, 62 rebounds, eight steals, five assists and five blocked shots while playing in 24 games last winter. Sophomore guard Sean Hanna will also be a major contributor for Moravian this season, and he had 32 points, 21 rebounds, 18 assists and 14 steals while seeing action in 21 contests in 2013-14 with eight starts.
Moravian has added one transfer, junior forward Ryan O'Neil, who will be returning to the court after spending two years at Penn State University as a student. The Hounds have three other juniors on the roster with forward Nate Samanns expected to contribute off the bench after adding seven points in limited action a year ago. Juniors center Jimmy Smith and forward Bobby Zimmermann along with sophomore guards Tom Cicalese and Jack Riordan and forward Aaron Browngive coach Walker experience on the bench.
The Greyhounds have added six freshmen to the roster in guards Isaac Roach, Riley Hengler, Jack Aussenheimer, Matt Cardonne, Christopher Germano and Khalil Rhett.
Moravian will play six straight non-conference games including contests with DeSales University and Muhlenberg College before opening the 2014-15 Landmark Conference season on Wednesday, December 3 at Goucher College. The Hounds play at home twice in November before heading on the road until January.
