Texas State Men’s Basketball Season Preview: Centers

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State men’s basketball team is coming off a 15-win season and making its second straight appearance in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Returning six players, including Preseason All-SBC Third Team selection Kavin Gilder-Tilbury, from last year, the Bobcats look to defy expectations with eight new players on the rosters.

In the fifth of a five-part series previewing the 2016-17 team, TXStateBobcats.com takes a look at the players competing for time at the center position.

Heading into the season, Maljhum McCrea currently holds down the starting spot. The senior posted a double-double of 10 points and rebounds in the exhibition game on Saturday. He was 5-for-11 from the field and added two steals.

“Maljhum is a lot more experienced,” said head coach Danny Kaspar. “Last year he played but struggled to catch on to the system. The big thing is he needs to do is learn how to play defense without fouling.”

Last season, the Miami native averaged 2.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. He appeared in 28 games and made two starts. McCrea had one of the best games of the season in the Sun Belt Conference First Round matchup against Georgia State when he scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in just 10 minutes off the bench.

McCrea’s main competitor for the starting position is Immanuel King. A Rocky Mount, North Carolina native, he played the past two seasons at Wallace State Community College in Alabama. As a sophomore he averaged 8.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while helping lead the team to the Alabama Community College regular season championship.

“Immanuel moves well, is a good rebounder and defender,” said Kaspar. “He is a very good kid, coachable young man and good athlete. We need him to be a better scorer for us and rebound when he is on the floor.”

Also fighting for playing time is Eric Terry. He was a late signee in the summer after playing a year at Temple College. In his lone season at the junior college level, he scored 8.7 points per contest and made 58.7 percent of his field goal attempts. His best performance came against Hill College when he scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked four shots.

“Eric probably has the best offensive touch around the basket,” Kaspar said. “After missing some practice time because of an injury, he is currently behind Maljhum and Immanuel. We will probably see more from him the farther we get into the season.”

In Saturday’s exhibition game, Terry was 3-for-3 from the field to total six points. He also grabbed five rebounds and handed out two assists in 14 minutes of action off the bench.

The Bobcat open the regular season on Friday against Florida Atlantic for the opening game of the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. Tip will be at 9 p.m. CT and be played at the ‘Iolani School.

Season tickets are currently on sale for the 2016-17 basketball season. They can be purchased online at www.txstatebobcats.com/tickets, over the phone at 512-245-2272 or by visiting the Mark and Linda Smith Ticket Office at Bobcat Stadium between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individual game tickets will go on sale to the general public on November 1.

For the latest on Texas State men’s basketball, visit the official website of Texas State athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, follow the team on Twitter at @TxStateMBB and like on Facebook at /TexasStateMensBasketball.

Point Guards Preview: http://txstatebobcats.com/news/2016/10/30/mens-basketball-season-preview-point-guards.aspx

Shooting Guards Preview: http://txstatebobcats.com/news/2016/11/1/mens-basketball-season-preview-shooting-guards.aspx

Small Forward Preview: http://txstatebobcats.com/news/2016/11/3/mens-basketball-season-preview-small-forwards.aspx

Power Forward Preview: http://txstatebobcats.com/news/2016/11/6/mens-basketball-season-preview-power-forwards.aspx