The 2013-14 men's basketball season tips off on Friday at Oswego State in Oswego, N.Y. as the Chargers will take part in the Max Ziel Men's Basketball Tournament along with Manhattanville and Neumann. Lancaster Bible will face the host Lakers on Friday at 8 p.m. and face either Manhattanville or Neumann in the championship or consolation on Saturday. 

The Chargers enter this season coming off a 5-21 campaign in 2012-13 that had its share of ups and downs and was ultimately a learning experience for both the coaching staff and players. This year's team is a unique blend of returners and newcomers, but due to injuries, there are actually more new faces than old ones. The new faces however, bring with them a wealth of experience and those returning now know what a full collegiate season of basketball looks like and many around the program are very excited for what lies ahead.

Discussing the prospects for the 2013-14 season, Chargers Head Coach Marshall Tague weaved back-and-forth between the fresh faces and returning ones as he discussed things he likes about both groups.

"The new guys have brought a sense of urgency and a desire to do things well," Tague said. "Those things along with leadership from sophomore Luke Roundy have helped our guys respond well to one another."

One of the new things the team implemented this season was a strength and conditioning program that began in early September. Many early morning and mid-afternoon sessions followed, but Tague said the team saw results immediately when practice began on October 15.

"We've had the growing pains of implementing a strength and conditioning program," Tague said. "Throughout that program and our weeks of practice thus far, we've been working hard every day and defining what that means each day. It hasn't been easy by any stretch, but the guys have stuck with it and we've seen very positive results from the workouts."

Though they are new to Lancaster Bible, some of the new guys aren't new to the collegiate game. Juniors Naheer Mirza and Albert Suniga come to the Chargers from Arizona Christian University in Phoenix, Ariz. and are no strangers to the ebbs and flows of a 25-game collegiate season. Likewise, fellow junior Trevor Marsh previously played for Penn St. York and knows the work it takes to play from November to March.

With the returners and even some of the newcomers knowing what a full season looks like and the work that must be put in, Tague said the leadership on the team is much improved from last season.

"I think Luke and Albert have provided us with great leadership thus far," Tague said. "It goes further than that though as each person knows they have a personal responsibility every day and I think each player has done a good job of bringing their personal responsibility and mixing that in with the team's responsibilities."

Tague also talked about the team's improved work ethic and how that will benefit the Chargers throughout the season.

"We've just worked so much harder this year than we did last year," Tague said. "We are all learning how this works and I think by working hard every day, we are going to give ourselves a chance each time we hit the floor."

One of the realities the team had to deal with early was the loss of three returning players due to injuries. Jon Bird, Corey Leonard and Nick Monroe all suffered injuries since the end of last season and are not playing as of this point. Chances are good that Leonard will play at some point this season, but Bird and Monroe will likely not dress for the Chargers this season.

"Not having them with us has been a challenge, but to their credit, they have adjusted well to their new roles as managers and are helping the team as much as they can," Tague said. "We are still a young team and having the injured guys along to keep learning with us is important."

The Chargers will play nine games prior to Christmas Break, including three North Eastern Athletic Conference games against Penn St. Abington, Cazenovia and defending champion, Morrisville State. All three of those games will be at Horst Athletic Center and though they are early-season games, Tague said every game is important for this year's team.

"Whether it is our first game or last game, we are looking at them all the same," Tague said. "Each game gives us a chance to work hard and improve and we are really preaching that this season. I know the guys are itching to play this Friday against Oswego State. They have worked hard and we still have lots of learning to do, but at the same time, it's time to play some games and see what we have."

Predictions of how the team will fare range from the always popular, 25-0 to something more realistic, which this year is double-digit wins and a chance at the NEAC playoffs. Tague said no matter what the prediction, the team will be ready to play on both ends of the floor.

"We have trained to play a certain style of defense in which we want to impose our will on other teams," Tague said. "We've worked so hard physically to play a certain style and I think if we can play defense the right way, it will translate into offense for us. We want to grow and learn each day and control the things we can control."

In addition to Roundy (2.4 ppg., 4.0 rpg.), Dave Long (1.4 ppg., 1.9 rpg.), Dondre Perry (5.6 ppg., 1.7 rpg.) and CJ Dunston (6.6 ppg., 3.6 rpg.) are also back for the Chargers in 2013-14, as is Kurt Keltner who returns after missing the 2012-13 season due to joining the Army. Joining the new guys mentioned are Javon Cole, Brian Cunningham, Jordan Mellinger, Marquis Boone and Jimmy Eagan. Keltner and Boone will not be with the Chargers to open the season as they are still playing on the men's soccer team that is at the NCCAA National Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla.

The Chargers will play 18 NEAC games this season due to there no longer being two divisions in the NEAC. There are 10 teams this season due to the loss of Penn St. Harrisburg, thus each team will play one another twice. In the past, teams in the South Division played one another twice, but played the teams in the North just once. It will be different once again in 2014-14 as Wilson will be adding men's basketball and Bryn Athyn and Penn Tech will be joining the NEAC.

As for this season, Lancaster Bible will play familiar non-conference foes Eastern, Mount Aloysius and Valley Forge Christian, while playing new teams like Penn St. Lehigh Valley and the aforementioned Lions of Bryn Athyn. After playing twice at Oswego State this weekend, the Chargers' home opener will be Saturday, Nov. 23 when they host Eastern at 3 p.m.

Please click on the schedule link and come cheer on the Chargers this season and be sure to visit the roster page and learn more about each student-athlete. You can also follow all of the action this season on Twitter, @LBCathletics.