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USF Men Favorite In CL Basketball 2016-17

Defending Crossroads League regular season and tournament champion University of Saint Francis was chosen to repeat as champion in 2016-17 at the annual CL meetings on Monday.

USF junior forward Bryce Lienhoop, senior guard Kegan Comer, junior guard Evan Henry and senior center Kyle Sovine were named to the Preseason All-Crossroads League Team. Freshman Vijay Blackmon was named to the Preseason CL All-Freshman Team. Lienhoop (Columbus, Ind. / East H.S.) was a first-team selection, a NAIA All-American third-team pick in 2016 as well as earning a spot on the NAIA All-tournament team. Comer (Portland, Ind. / Jay County H.S.) was a second-team pick while Sovine (New Haven, Ind. / New Haven H.S.) and Henry (Columbus, Ind. / North H.S.) were named to the third team.

Blackmon (Marion, Ind. / Marion H.S.) was named to the CL All-Freshman team.

The NAIA Division II finalist Cougars finished 33-5 overall, 16-2 in CL regular season action for the regular season title in 2015-16. USF won the CL Tournament title with an 81-80 win over Indiana Wesleyan University in the championship game and finished the 2015-16 season at the No. 1 team in the NAIA Div. II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.

Name CL HT Pos. Pts pg Reb. Avg.

Kegan Comer (Portland, IN / Jay County H.S.) Sr. 6-3 G/F 13.2 2.8 .362 3-Pt FG%, 103 assts
Kyle Sovine (New Haven, IN / New Haven H.S.) Sr. 6-9 C/F 10.6 6.1 .624 FG % Rdshrt 15-16

Bryce Lienhoop (Columbus, IN / East H.S.) Jr. 6-6 F 14.6 8.4 .573 FG%

Evan Henry (Columbus, IN / North H.S.) Jr. 6-2 G 11.4 2.7 .477 3-Pt FG%

Vijay Blackmon (Marion, IN / Marion H.S.) Fr. 6-3 G 17.4 4.2 523 pts, 1.9 steals pg

Chad LaCross returns to USF for his seventh season with a 150-61 overall record after earning CL Coach of the Year and NAIA Rawlings Coach of the Year in 2015-16. His Cougars open the 53rd season for the program at Hutzell Athletic Center on Friday, Oct. 28 in the Northern Lake Insurance Tournament 27th-ranked Cincinnati Christian University at 8 p.m.

Defending NAIA champion Indiana Wesleyan University (33-5) was picked No. 2 in the CL, the Wildcats defeating USF 69-66 in the 2016 NAIA Championship Game.