Waterville, ME - The 2024/2025 Men's Basketball season has arrived, and student-athletes recently completed their first exhibition game in a win against Southern Maine Community College on Monday, November 4^th, 2024.
 
Men's Basketball will be back in action when they travel to take on the University of New England in a midnight madness matchup Friday, November 8^th, 2024. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:01 AM. This year will bring several new faces to the Men's Basketball team, as Head Men's Basketball Coach Marquis Mason-Pollard and his staff have worked hard to bring in 12 new talented players. Mason-Pollard had this to say about the incoming recruiting class: "We have a great group of young men with high character and work ethic who are dedicated to doing whatever it takes to get better and being great teammates. I'm excited about the future of Thomas Men's Basketball." Those 12 new players are as follows:
 
#0 – TJ Blackmon – First Year – Guard – Grenada, Mississippi
#3 – Christian Cauley – First Year – Guard – West Grove, Pennsylvania
#4 – Pepito Girumugisha – First Year – Guard – Portland, Maine
#15 – Wyatt Smith – First Year – Guard – Hudson Oaks, Texas
#30 – Parker Sergent – First Year – Guard – Augusta, Maine
#55 – Isiah Corson – First Year – Forward – Ellsworth, Maine
#5 – Matthew Bohurjak – Junior – Guard – Lakewood, Ohio
#12 – Luke Briggs – Junior – Guard – Augusta, Maine
#42 – Jonathan Velasquez – Junior – Forward – Norwalk, Connecticut
#1 – Loki Anda – Senior – Forward – Portland, Maine
#22 – Ata Kurtulus – Senior – Guard – Atasehir, Istanbul, Turkey
#13 – Camryn Yorke – Graduate Student – Guard – Auburn, Maine
 
When asked who he expects to make a big impact this season, Mason-Pollard named four talented players.
 
#14 Parker Desjardins – One of two remaining players from 2022 roster, 257 points away from 1000.
#12 Luke Briggs – Transfer from Southern Maine Community College, was their leading scorer last year with 12.8 PPG and was named a YSCC All-Conference Honorable Mention.
#13 Camryn Yorke – Transfer point guard from St. Joseph's College of Maine, helped lead the team to the GNAC Conference Championship game last season
#10 Jackson Ruelke – Senior forward who will take on a larger role this season.
 
Looking ahead, the team will look to build upon last season's improved record. Mason-Pollard had this to say about the upcoming season. "I am very excited about this group of guys that we have been able to assemble. When I took the job in 2022, my goal was to get back to the tradition of competing at the top of the NAC, and I truly believe we have the team to put us in position to elevate the program this year. We've focused on changing the culture over the last couple of years and building a program that will sustain long-term success. We have a group of young men that are dedicated to our DAWGS values of Discipline, Accountability, Willingness, Grit and Selflessness and all have the mentality to do whatever it takes for the team to achieve success. We will most definitely face some adversity with new faces on our roster, but we are built to weather the storm and will be ready to get through it together." Men's Basketball plays their home games at the Larry Mahaney Gymnasium, located centrally on campus. The upcoming 2024/25 home schedule is as follows:
 
Friday, November 15^th, 2024, VS Paul Smith's College – 7:00 PM (Charlie Ryan Classic)
Saturday, November 16^th, 2024, VS MCLA – 3:00 PM (Charlie Ryan Classic)
Sunday, December 1^st, 2024, VS Bates College – 2:00 PM
Wednesday, December 4^th, 2024, VS University of Maine Farmington – 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 7^th, 2024, VS Husson University – 3:00 PM
Monday, January 6^th, 2025, VS SUNY Cobleskill – Time TBD
Tuesday, January 7^th, 2025, VS SUNY Delhi – Time TBD
Saturday, January 15^th, 2025, VS Lesley University – 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 1^st, 2025, VS Maine Maritime Academy – 3:00 PM
Friday, February 14^th, 2025, VS University of Maine Fort Kent – 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 15^th, 2025, VS University of Maine Presque Isle – 3:00 PM
 
When asked about the most important games of the season Mason-Pollard pointed out the home matchups against Husson University and the University of Maine Farmington on Wednesday, December 4^th, and Saturday, December 7^th. "Playing against last year's first and second placed teams to start our conference play will be a good test to see where our team is in comparison to our top conference opponents early in the season."
 
Every season Men's Basketball travels to an NCAA Division I school to compete against high-level competition in an exhibition game. This year the team will be traveling to Boston University to take on the Terriers on Monday, December 9^th, 2024. Mason-Pollard had this to say about the matchup: "We love to provide the experience of playing scholarship-level players and allowing our guys to play in that atmosphere. Last year we played Dartmouth College."

Once again, Men's Basketball will begin their regular season as they travel for a near-midnight tip-off at 12:01 AM against the University of New England on Friday, November 8^th, 2024.