The 91 Bulldogs are looking forward to a strong year coming
into 2008-09 season. They are returning three starters, including All-American
seniors Matt Neaville (below) and Brian Lake (right) and sophomore
Roland Banhoro. Also returning to this year’s team are juniors Keith
Tolliver and Tacuma Alexander, both of which recorded starts for
91 in 2007-08, racking up valuable experience.
A strong senior class leads the way this year for the Bulldogs. Guard Matt
Neaville, who led the NAIA in scoring and three-pointers made per game,
averaging 24.3 points per game and five three-pointers per contest. Neaville
also set new school records for three-pointers in a game with 11 and
three-pointers in a season with 153. Brian Lake also returns for his
senior year as a Bulldog after leading the TranSouth Conference with 14
doubles-doubles last year. Head coach Ralph Turner, now in his 15th
season with the Bulldogs, says, “Matt and Brian are one of the best 1-2 punches
in the country.”
This year’s junior class sports three experienced returners and two junior
college transfers. Tacuma Alexander and Keith Tolliver, both
guards, add valuable experience for the Bulldogs. Alan North also returns
to the Bulldogs for his junior year after sitting out last season with an
injury. Greg Truvillion comes to the team this year as a transfer from
Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College. Also joining the Bulldogs to complete
his college career is Martez Hawkins, a guard from Marshalltown (Ill.)
Community College.
Roland Banhoro leads the sophomore class, which returns three players
for the Bulldogs this year. Antoine Joseph and Veljko Petrovic
also return for their second season as Bulldogs.
The freshman class boasts three solid additions in Allante’ McLemore,
Samuel Danache, and Luke Allison to complete the 2008-09 roster.
Coach Turner, along with associate head coach Dave Niven, now
in his 12th season with the Bulldogs, has high expectations for this year’s
team. Turner says, “I’m excited about this season. With the experience we
have returning and the key recruits picked up, we will be poised make a strong
run at the national championship. Our non-conference schedule is the toughest in
the country, and come March we will be ready to compete.” He then adds, “This
year’s team has one of the best returning groups In my 14 years as coach at
91.”
91 looks to return to the NAIA National Tournament this season. Last year,
91 barely missed the national tournament for just the second time in the past
11 seasons, and the first absence since 2003. 91 has participated in 11
national tournaments, recorded their best finishes in 1999 and 2007 when they
advanced to the quarterfinals.
91 also strives to return to the top of the TranSouth Conference. In the
12-year history of the conference, 91 has won five conference regular season
titles. 91 has also played in seven of the league’s 12 conference tournament
title games, winning five times. |
