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Bethel Men's Basketball Opens Season Tuesday at Home versus Philander Smith

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MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel Wildcats open their 2018-19 basketball season Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at home hosting the Philander Smith Panthers. Tip-off is  7 p.m. at Crisp Arena. Bethel is 72-23 all-time in Crisp.

Philander Smith opens their season Monday night against Cumberland University in Lebanon. The Panthers are coached by former Arkansas and NBA star Todd Day.

Coach Jeff Britt is in his 19th year at Bethel University as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and his 30th overall, all at the collegiate level.  He has an overall collegiate record of 428-294 and ten 20 plus win seasons. He currently ranks 10th among active NAIA I Men’s Basketball Coaches for most wins. 

The programs have met only once with Bethel winning 82-68 last year in McKenzie.  

2018-19 MBB Season Outlook

The 2018-19 Wildcat team will have a veteran presence. This group will feature the top nine players returning and 12 total players suiting back up for Bethel. Honorable Mention All American Isaac Edmondson and four other seniors will look to carry this team into March and make a run for the National Tournament. The team from last year won 17 games and will need to see those wins increase to reach their goal.

Bethel’s returning cast will have five seniors on the roster: Isaac Edmondson 6'5 (17.1 PPG 8.3 REB), Bradley Walker 6'4 (4.9 PPG 2.7 RPG), Javonte Ellis 6'6 (3.4 PPG 2.7 RPG), Chase Nappier 5'10 (4.2 PPG 1.7 RPG 1.2 APG), Braxton Nappier 5'10 (2.5 PPG 1.3 RPG 2.1 APG)

The underclassmen returnees are Charles Cobb 6'1 junior (9.0 PPG 3.4 RPG), Cayden Edmonson 6'8 junior (8.9 PPG 5.3 REB), Noah Chatman 6'6 junior (4.5 PPG 5.1 RPG), Tyrus Robinson 6’0 sophomore (Redshirt), Trey Phifer 5’10 sophomore (1.9 PPG), Jarred Walker 5'9 sophomore (5.5 PPG 1.7 APG), Ethan Renfroe 6'10 sophomore (Redshirt)

Bethel has brought in three transfers and three freshman to this years’ team:

  Jacob Rose 6'5 FR (18pts 9 rebs) Stewart County High School (TN)

  Matt McMillan 5'11 FR (15pts 4 asts) Union City High School (TN)

  Aaron Reed 6'5 FR (11.3pts 6.8 rebs) Marshall County High School (KY)

  Cameron Ricks 6'1 SR (2.0pts 1.2 rebs) Henderson State University

  Zach Hudson 6'7 JR (4.5pts 4.6 rebs) Northeast Mississippi Community College

  Foday Sankaray 6’4 JR (17.3pts 6.1 rebs) Sullivan County Community College

The 2018-2019 non-conference schedule will be lighter for the Wildcats as they will now have 22 conference games. They will open the season at home hosting Philander Smith College Panthers. Bethel will play host to the Mid-South/Southern States Challenge and play Georgetown College and Life University. The Wildcats will again put on the Chick fil-A Classic where Bethel will face Rust College and Cumberland University. The other home games will be with Brescia University and Mississippi University for Women. The lone road game on slate will be at Welch College in Gallatin, TN. The Wildcats will play exhibition games with Delta State University, an NCAA Division II that plays out of the Gulf South Conference and Murray State University a NCAA Division I opponent that plays out of the Ohio Valley Conference.

Coach Jeff Britt states, "I like the team that we have put together and we can’t wait to get them on the floor for our first game of the season. We bring back our top nine performers from last season and feel we have added pieces that will allow this team to compete and fight to get to the top of this league.”