(KIRTLAND, OH) - On the heels of a second straight District Championship and NJCAA Division II National Tournament appearance in 2011-12, the Lakeland Community College men’s basketball program will open
the season as the nation’s fifth ranked team according to the preseason poll released today by the national office.

The Lakers lost just one player from last year’s 27-9 team which advanced to the Final Four before falling to eventual national champion Mott Community College in the national semifinals.  Lakeland will have to fill the hole left by the departure of sophomore All-American Brendan Cooper, who will be a key member of the men’s basketball program at Fairmont State University (NCAA Division II) this season.

Lakeland returns nine players from last year’s squad including four starters while also welcoming six new faces to the program.   The Lakers will be tested from the very beginning when they open the season against
No. 13 Danville Area Community College at the Triton College Tournament on Friday, November 2 at 5:00 p.m. (EST).

Mott Community College will open the season as the nation’s top ranked  team while fellow Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) member Owens Community College is ranked 17th after falling to Lakeland in  the district finals last year.
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