2024-25 Men's Basketball Season Preview

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Conway, Ark. – Coming off a 28-7 season with an American Midwest Conference regular season and tournament championship and run to the NAIA National Quarterfinals, Central Baptist College men's basketball, the preseason #14 team in the nation, their highest ranking in history, opens their season tomorrow night in Mississippi against Blue Mountain Christian University. Tipoff from Jones Gymnasium in Blue Mountain, Miss., is scheduled for 7 p.m.

            "Last season was a special season," says Sam Kohnke, the reigning AMC Coach of the Year who enters his fourth year at the helm. "We had a special group of guys and the staff was great. It was the culmination of getting not just the right players but right people in as well. We had some competitive guys who cared about winning over anything else. It was something special that we'll always remember."

            Nine players return from last year's historic team (and one returns from a season away), led by senior guard Sage Borbon, an AMC Second Team selection and the AMC Tournament MVP last season, AMC Third Team and All-Tournament Team selection Jonas Carlisle and AMC All-Tournament Team selection Wade Williams. Also returning are AMC Defensive Team selection Devin Foster, AMC All-Freshman Team selection Savaughn Smith as well as 2022-23 AMC Second Team selection Gabe Johnson, Hykeem Hancock, Devon Jefferson, Jarvis Leigh and Dalton Alexander III. "We have a lot of good returners," said Kohnke. "We have four guys who started in most every game they were healthy and we have a ton of guys who were key contributors last year. Nine players is the most I've ever had return and they are not just good players but good people as well."

            Five newcomers dot a deep roster, led by Keryn 'Zo' Collins, who helped lead National Park College to an NJCAA Division II National Championship last year and earned All-Tournament Team honors in the process. Joining him is Daquarius Harris, a transfer from Mississippi College, Brian Alexander, the 2021-22 Class Five Player of the Year in Virginia, Jyre McCloud, a transfer from UAPB, and Tommie Williams, a callup from the Junior Varsity Team. "All of these guys, again, are good talent wise and as people," added Kohnke. "We're excited and we are going to control what we can control."

            The Mustangs went 12-2 in a deep AMC last season, winning the regular season outright for the first time in program history, then cruising through the AMC Tournament, receiving an overtime challenge from William Woods in the semifinals. In the run through the National Tournament, as a 14-seed, CBC took down two top-10 teams in MidAmerica Nazarene and Oklahoma Wesleyan sandwiched around a win over Bethel. The run came to an end against the eventual national champions, preseason #4 Freed-Hardeman, who the Mustangs play in a home-and-home this season, with the first matchup in Tennessee on Nov. 14 and the return trip to Conway on Dec. 17. "The AMC is going to be good again this year," added Kohnke. "We added Crowley's Ridge and Mission and everyone in the league is talented and well coached. Everyone is 0-0 so we'll see how this season turns out."

            The Mustangs, who carry a 19-game home winning streak, will open their Reddin Fieldhouse schedule on Halloween when they host Ecclesia. "We will play an exciting style of basketball," added Kohnke. "We'll be able to shoot and do a lot of fun things. We have good people who can relate to CBC and care about each other. I hope and pray that everyone comes out and continues to support the awesome home court advantage that we have."

            Be sure to check cbcmustangs.com and follow us on social media for everything related to the #14 Mustangs!