Bridgewater State to Have Four New Starters in Men’s Basketball

By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men’s basketball team will have four new starters in its lineup this season.

Senior point guard Shawn Yard of Brockton is the lone returner to the starting five after the graduations of Corey Ryser, Samuel Johnson, and Andrew Groth, (while senior forward Anthony Fortes expects to return to the lineup after the fall semester).

The Bears open on Friday night when they host the Bridgewater State Tip-Off Classic at the Tinsley Center.

BSU meets Plymouth State at 5:30 p.m., with Springfield and Becker playing at 7:30, and the consolation and championship games are Saturday afternoon.

Head coach Joe Farroba said that Yard will be joined in the lineup by sophomore forwards Michael Lofton of Mansfield and Kyle Gibson while the other spots are up for grabs.

“It could be any number of guys after those three,’’ said Farroba, whose team lost to Salem State in the championship game of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tourney last season.

“That could be a strength in that we have multiple guys who could get out there and play.’’

The players vying for time include guards Brendan Monteiro of Brockton, a transfer from Wentworth who is a Catholic Memorial graduate, sophomores Diijon Reid, a long-range shooter, and Barrett Murphy.

“D.J. and Barrett both can play small forward or the two guard and each brings a different strength for us,’’ said Farroba, whose Bears had three straight trips to the NCAA tourney stopped last season.

Also in the mix are forward Brian Grossman, a transfer from Wheaton College, sophomore guard Justin Clark, 6-foot-5 forward Michael Grandfield and 6-foot-7 freshman Conor Dunleavy.

“Conor is looking pretty good right now,’’ said Farroba, whose team is picked to finish third in the MASCAC. “He’s good around the basket with either hand. He’s been a pleasant surprise.’’

Seniors Jimmy McGrath, a transfer from Massasoit Community College, and captain Brendan McDonald have been dealing with injuries in camp.

“We’ve got some depth here,’’ said Farroba. “It’s just that a lot of guys have not had minutes and they’ll be getting their feet wet under fire.’’

Yard, a starter the past two seasons, averaged 7.3 points and 3.9 assists last year.

“He’s a pretty good defensive player and he will have to put pressure on the other team’s point guard,’’ said Farroba. “If he does that, we’ll be a pretty good team.’’

Lofton scored seven points and averaged 5.3 rebounds per game as a freshman while Gibson played in 16 games.

“It’s not going to be who starts for us, it’s who plays and who finishes,’’ said Farroba. “We’ve got some good players. Our big goal is January when you hope the sophomores become juniors in terms of growing up. If they do, we’ll be a dangerous team in this league.’’