WILBERFORCE, Ohio – The Benedict College men's and women's basketball teams open the 2025-26 season on Thursday against the Marauders of Central State University.
The women tip off at 5:30 p.m., with the men to follow. The games will be streamed on the SIAC TV network,
here.
The Lady Tigers, under head coach
James Rice, return a pair of preseason All-SIAC selections in junior guard
Alaysia Nash and senior guard
Ghylissa Knowles. Nash was the second-leading scorer for the Lady Tigers last season, averaging 9.4 points per game. Knowles was one of the top 3-point shooters in the SIAC last season and averaged 8.8 points per game while connecting on 58 3-pointers.
The Lady Tigers, who last won a SIAC title in 2022, are looking to return to the top of the SIAC. They went 9-18 overall and 7-12 in the SIAC last season.
The men's team will open under first-year coach
Dannton Jackson with a nearly revamped roster. Guard
Caleb Hymon (10.9 points per game last season), and
Donte Whymns (9.9 points per game) are holdovers from last year's squad, which went 6-22 overall. Coach Jackson brings a wealth of coaching experience to Benedict, winning more than 62 percent of his games the last three seasons at Talladega College. Key newcomers include guard
Landon Jeffries, forward
Cole White, guard
Malachi Chavis and forward
Jordan Brewer.
After Thursday's season opener, the men's and women's teams will continue their northern road trip with a SIAC doubleheader against Kentucky State on Saturday.
