Men's Basketball | 11/14/2014 4:58:00 PM

GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College men's basketball team was predicted to finish the 2014-15 season fifth in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, according to league's annual preseason coaches' poll, which was released Friday.
 
The Tomcats received 53 points in the poll, including one first-place vote. The Saint Vincent Bearcats were predicted to capture their third straight PAC title, according to the poll. Saint Vincent received 69 points in the poll, including four first-place votes.
 
Only 16 points separated the Bearcats from the Tomcats in the poll. Waynesburg finished second in the poll with 60 points, followed by Thomas More, which was selected third with 57 points. Bethany was picked fourth with 56 points.
 
Most of the Tomcats' top contributors from last season are back in 2014-15, including forward Eric Mallinger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice), an All-PAC Second Team pick a season ago, and guard Khari Bess (Waldorf, Md./Maurice J. Mcdonough), who was an All-PAC Honorable Mention selection last season. Mallinger and Bess were the Tomcats' picks on the PAC's players to watch list heading into this season.
 
The PAC also released its 60^th anniversary men's basketball team Friday, and the list included eight former Tomcats. Bios on all eight picks are included below.
 
The Tomcats will open the 2014-15 season Saturday when they face Penn State Beaver in the Buzz Ridl Classic, hosted by Westminster College (Pa.). The game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
 
PAC 60^th anniversary men's basketball team (Thiel selections)
 
Devon Adams, 2007-12, Philadelphia, Pa. / George Junior Republic
 
Adams amassed 1,409 points during his career, the fourth most in program history. A shooting guard, he made 171 career three-point field goals, the second most in school history, and 316 free throws, also the second most in school history. He is Thiel's career leader in assists (497) and ranks sixth in steals (138). Adams was a four-time All-PAC pick, earning First Team honors in 2011 and 2012. He was a Second Team All-PAC pick in 2009 and an Honorable Mention selection in 2008.
 
Bob Anderson, 1955-59, Coudersport, Pa.
 
Anderson scored 1,149 career points and is one of only two Thiel players to secure 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career. He posted 38 rebounds in a game against Allegheny during the 1958-59 season. He was inducted into the Thiel Hall of Fame in 1987.
 
A.H. Davis, 1999-03, Boardman, Ohio / Boardman
 
Davis is Thiel's career leader in points with 1,683. He also ranks fifth on the program's all-time blocks list with 79. A four-time All-PAC honoree, Davis was named to the First Team following the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons. He was a member of Thiel's last PAC title team in 2000.
 
Victor Harp, 1981-85, Pittsburgh, Pa. / Wilkinsburg
 
Harp held Thiel's record for points in a career (1,607) for 18 years until A.H. Davis established a new all-time standard in 2003. He ranks second on the school's career steals list (179) and fourth on the career rebounds list (725). Harp was named to the All-PAC First Team for three-straight seasons and was named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Small College Second Team following his junior season. He was inducted into Thiel's Hall of Fame in 2001.
 
Erik Hemsing, 1998-02, Sharpsville, Pa. / Kennedy Catholic
 
Hemsing, a three-time All-PAC selection, was named the PAC's Most Valuable Player after his sophomore campaign. During his league MVP season he averaged 14 points a game and shot 39 percent from the three-point line. Hemsing led Thiel to their last PAC Championship in 2000. He is Thiel's all-time leader in three-point field goals made with 183.
 
Joe Herrmann, 2004-08, Hartstown, Pa. / Jamestown
 
Herrmann amassed 1,520 points in his career, the third most in program history. He is the program's career leader in blocks (112) and ranks fifth in career rebounds (695). Herrmann was a three-time All-PAC pick, earning First Team selections as a junior and senior. He was an All-PAC second team pick and earned PAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2005.
 
Blair Rozenblad, 2009-12, Youngstown, Ohio / Kennedy Catholic
 
Rozenblad scored 1,302 career points, the sixth most in school history. He also recorded 693 career rebounds, the sixth most in program history. He made 344 free throws in his career, the most in program history. During the 2010 season he scored 544 points, the most in a single season in program history. Rozenblad was named the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Rookie of the Year and was an All-PAC first team pick in all three of his seasons at Thiel. Rozenblad was the PAC Player of the Year following the 2011 season. He was also named to the NABC All-District First Team and was an All-Region Second Team following the 2011 season.
 
Dave Thomas, 1966-70
 
Thomas was a four-year letter winner and cracked the starting lineup after a successful freshman season in which he averaged 11.3 points per game. He was a two-time All-PAC selection, was named to the All-Lutheran Team once and, in 1970, he was honored with a spot on the Outstanding College Athletes of America team. Thomas finished his career with 408 made field goals and 508 career rebounds.