ORANGEBURG, SC – The SC State men's basketball team will tip off its 2009-10 campaign Monday with a 7:30 p.m. exhibition against Voorhees at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Admission is free.

            Eight new faces will join seven returning players – three starters – to make up this year's roster. Jason Flagler, a 6-6, 195 senior who earned preseason All-MEAC honors, will lead Coach Tim Carter's team. Flagler was second on the team in both scoring (12.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.2 rpg) last year.

            SC State made a late run last season to finish at 17-14 overall and 10-6 and in a tie for second in the MEAC. But, Carter's team will be without the inside presence of 6-7 Jason Johnson, an All-MEAC first team performer and the league's defensive Player of the Year, and 6-8 backup Josh Jackson.

            Johnson led the team in scoring (13.8 ppg) and was the MEAC's top rebounder (8.2 rpg), while Jackson was third in both scoring (8.0 ppg) and rebounding (4.7 rpg).

            This year's team will be more perimeter-oriented as four of the seven returning players and five of eight newcomers are guards.

            The Bulldogs open their regular season Nov. 13 when they host Erskine in the first of three straight home contests. Carter's team will entertain Allen Nov. 19 and Southern Wesleyan Nov. 23. All three contests will tip at 7:30 p.m.

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