PORTLAND, Ore. – Gearing up for their second season in the Cascade Collegiate Conference and the NAIA, the Multnomah University men's basketball team kicks off the 2016-17 campaign with four games this week, starting Wednesday night as they host Bethesda University at 7 p.m.
 
After that, the Lions host New Hope Christian on Friday night and Saturday afternoon before traveling across town for an exhibition game with University of Portland.
 
Last Season: The Multnomah University men's basketball team completed their first ever season as members of both the Cascade Collegiate Conference, and the NAIA after previously being a part of the NCCAA. The Lions finished 7-23 overall on the year while going 2-18 in CCC action. Their biggest win came against The Evergreen State College in the final conference game of the year.
 
MU set three national records from behind the arc, registering the most three-pointers made in a single game (29), the most three-pointers attempted in a single game (79) and most three pointers attempted per game in a season (38.6).
 
2016-17 Squad: MU only lost three seniors from last season but will have a very different look, adding five newcomers along with three players coming off of a redshirt year.
 
Entering his first season with the Lions, Darius Redrick comes to MU after a stint with Allen Community College where he totaled 53 assists and 89 points in 29 games.
 
Moe Keita will play his first season for MU after spending last year as a redshirt. Keita played the 2014-15 season at Clackamas Community College where he averaged 7.11 points per game along with 6.4 rebounds. He finished with the sixth most blocks in the Northwest Athletic Conference with 40.
 
Key Returners: The Lions return two key shooters in sophomores Ben Grandle and Jason Wyncoop. Grandle finished with the team's second highest point total at 360, averaging 12 points per game. He hit 102 three pointers to finish with the second most in the CCC last season. Wyncoop averaged 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while totaling the third most threes made on the team at 62.
 
Also returning for MU is forward Thomas Simien who averaged 12.5 points along with 7.1 rebounds. Simien totaled the second most rebounds on the team with 199.
 
Conference Outlook: Landing six first place votes in the 2016-17 Cascade Collegiate Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, College of Idaho was named the favorite for the upcoming season, tallying 112 points in the poll.
 
C of I is coming off a fourth place finish in the CCC standings last year, going 17-13 overall and 12-8 in conference games. Joey Nebeker, a 2015-16 First-Team All-Conference selection, returns for his final season with the Yotes after averaging 20.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season.
 
Second in the poll is Northwest Christian who had one of their most historic seasons last year, earning the programs first CCC regular season and tournament titles. The Beacons finished the 2015-16 campaign with a 28-7 overall record, going 17-3 in conference, and making an appearance in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.
 
NCU returns eight players from last year including Kenny Blackwell who averaged 11.1 points per game with 167 total assists and Jack Hackman who hit 79 three-pointers to average 10.3 points per contest.
 
Warner Pacific earned the third spot in the preseason poll with one first place vote after a 24-10 overall finish, 16-4 in conference play, and an appearance in the CCC tournament title game.
 
Upcoming Games:          Live stats and video can be found HERE
Multnomah vs. Bethesda University: Wednesday, Oct. 26 @ 7 p.m.
About Bethesda:
-Members of the NCCAA, Bethesda finished last season with a record of 6-18.
-They finished in the NCCAA West with a record of 5-3
-The Last time these teams met, MU registered a 99-96 win in a neutral site game at West Coast Baptist
 
Multnomah vs. New Hope Christian: Friday, Oct. 28 @ 6:45 p.m.
Multnomah vs. New Hope Christian: Saturday, Oct. 29 @ 12 p.m.
About New Hope Christian:
-New Hope comes to Portland to play two games against the Lions
-The Deacons started their season last week, falling to CCC opponent Northwest Christian 96-77.
-New Hope lost both contests against the Lions last season, losing on the road 128-98 and at home 86-71
 
Multnomah vs. University of Portland: Saturday, Oct. 29 @ 7 p.m. (Exhibition)
About University of Portland:
-An NCAA Division I school, University of Portland is a member of the West Coast Conference
-Last season, the Pilots finished 12-20 overall, going 6-12 in conference play
-The Pilots recorded a 98-81 win against CCC member Oregon Tech last season, the only NAIA team they faced.
                *This game is an exhibition