Alva Review-Courier -

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern men's basketball opens the 2018-19 season with its highest preseason ranking since joining the Great American Conference after being picked second in the league's preseason poll released on Thursday.

The Savage Storm picked up 92 points in the poll, trailing Southern Nazarene who was picked to win the league by 29 points. SNU picked up 11 of the league's 12 first-place votes.

SE finished six points up on Arkansas Tech in third place, while East Central was in fourth with 83 points with Southern Arkansas in fifth at 80 points.

Northwestern Oklahoma State picked up the remaining first-place vote but finished sixth in the voting with 78 points, while Ouachita Baptist followed in seventh.

Arkansas-Monticello checked in eighth, followed by Southwestern Oklahoma State, Harding, Henderson State and Oklahoma Baptist rounding out the poll.

Southeastern posted a 15-14 record on the year last season and a 13-9 mark in GAC play to finish tied for third in the final league standings.

The Storm return four starters from that squad, led by second team all-conference honoree Kevin Buckingham who led the team in scoring with 15.0 ppg.

He is joined by Jett Jobe and A'Torey Everett who each averaged double-figures with 12.2 ppg and 11.0 ppg, respectively, as well as Adam Dworsky who added 8.6 ppg and 4.8 assists per contest, earning All-GAC Tournament recognition.

Southeastern also welcomes five newcomers to the roster, including Division I transfer Kellen Manek who makes the move to Durant, Okla., after spending a season a season at Oral Roberts.

Southeastern will see its first action of the season on Nov. 8 in an exhibition contest against Arkansas-Little Rock at 6:30 p.m. in Little Rock, Ark., before opening the season proper on Nov. 13 by hosting Arlington Baptist at 7:30 p.m. in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.