ISLANDER MEN PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH IN WEST, REYNOLDS EARNS HONOR

KATY – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball team has been picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference West Division in both the coaches and sports information director preseason polls announced at the league's annual media days at the Merrell Center. The Merrell Center in Katy is the site of the 2009 Southland Conference tournament.

"I have never been big in rankings in the preseason and their meanings," said second-year Islander coach Perry Clark. "I think the league will be more balanced this season and it really is hard to decide where teams will finish. It is an educated gues. A lot of things can happen in a three-month season and you have to go out play every night.

The men were selected fifth in the SLC West with 28 points in the coaches poll and 26 in the SID version. UT Arlington finished first in the West in both polls earning nine of the 12 first-place votes in the coaches poll and seven in the other. Lamar, who moved to the West Division this fall with Stephen F. Austin heading to the East Division, was chosen second in both polls with three first-place votes in each with 54 and 56 votes in each.

Sam Houston State was third in the coaches poll with 46 and tied for third in the SID poll with UTSA with 43 points. The Roadrunners were fourth in the coaches poll with 39. Texas State was selected last in each poll.

The Lumberjacks were chosen atop the East Division in each poll with 10 first-place votes in each and an identical 65 points. Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana were second and third in each of the polls with McNeese State fourth. Nicholls State was fifth in the coaches and sixth in the other ballot, flip-flopping with Central Arkansas.

Reynolds, a sophomore who is the top returning scorer for the Islanders, was selected to the Preseason All-Southland Conference second-team. Reynolds, who set numerous freshmen records including points (339), rebounds (208), and field goals (128), was one of two sophomores selected to either team. He is top returning scorer and rebounder for the Islanders with 11.7 and 7.2 rebounds a season ago.

"With the way Justin performed as a freshman he deserves the notoriety of being selected to the preseason team," said Clark. "The best thing about Justin is that he knows what he has to do to get better and is willing to work hard to get there."