11/13/2008 -

Junior Co-Captain Eric Lastres.

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Men’s Basketball team under the direction of new head coach Brian Nigro ’00 has been picked to finish ninth in the Skyline Conference Preseason Poll voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches. The Dolphins will open the 2008-09 campaign on November 18 at cross town rival Lehman.

Farmingdale State, the 2007-08 Skyline Tournament Champions, topped the poll with 91 points and 10 of the 11 first place nods. Sage, who will join the league next season also voted in the poll. Old Westbury was picked second with 75 points, while St. Joseph’s-LI followed in third with 71 points and one first place vote. Rounding out the top six in the poll are Maritime with 56 points, Polytechnic with 48 and Mount Saint Mary with 43.

Purchase was picked to finish seventh with 36 points and the Panthers were followed by Yeshiva with 34 tallies. The Dolphins took the ninth spot with 30 points and Bard rounded out the 10 team field with 21.

The Dolphins are coming off a 2007-08 season that saw them finish with a 9-16 overall record and a 6-12 mark in the Skyline Conference. After the season opener on Tuesday, the Mount will travel to Clinton, NY to take part in the Hamilton Tip-Off Tournament. The Dolphins Skyline opener will be December 2 at Bard.

Skyline Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Farmingdale State, 91 (10)
2. Old Westbury, 75
3. St. Joseph’s-LI, 71 (1)
4. Maritime, 56
5. Polytechnic, 48
6. Mount Saint Mary, 43
7. Purchase, 36
8. Yeshiva, 34
9. Mount Saint Vincent, 30
10. Bard, 21