The Lancaster Bible College men's basketball team is set to kick off the 50^th season in program history on Friday, November 12 against Baruch at the F&M Tip-Off Tournament in Lancaster, Pa. The 2021-22 season will be the third for Lancaster Bible Men's Basketball Head Coach Jon Mack, and the Chargers will play their first conference games in nearly two years.
 
Despite the lack of conference games a season ago, Lancaster Bible was the only team in the United East Conference to take part in games, and finished 13-4 overall, while also playing exhibition games against NCAA Division I foes Liberty and Delaware State.  The Chargers made a fantastic run in the NCCAA Regional and National Tournaments, battling and defeating several scholarship schools.
 
2021-22 Season Preview

2021-22 Season Preview Podcast
 
Coaching Information
Head Coach: Jon Mack (3^rd season at Lancaster Bible; 22^nd overall)
Assistant Coaches: Chris Cook, Jalen Archer (Lancaster Bible, '18), Chris Rich
Graduate Assistant: Hunter Gerber (Lancaster Bible, '21)
 
Recent History
2021 Record: 13-4 overall
2021 Postseason: W, 84-61 vs. Concordia (Mich.) in NCCAA Div. I Midwest Region Semifinals; L, 89-85 at Grace (Ind.) in NCCAA Div. I Midwest Region Final; L, 67-65 vs. Northwestern (Minn.) in NCCAA Div. I National Tournament; W, 107-51 vs. SAGU American Indian in NCCAA Div. I National Tournament; W, 87-68 vs. Columbia International in NCCAA Div. I National Tournament 5^th Place Game
 
2019-20 Record: 14-14 overall, 10-6 NEAC
2019-20 Postseason: W, 77-73 vs. Penn College in NEAC Quarterfinals; W, 79-75 vs. SUNY Poly in NEAC Semifinals; L, 76-69 (OT) at Penn St. Harrisburg in NEAC Final
 
2021-22 Roster
Returners (2021 Statistics)
Seniors: Jordan Shewbridge (17GP, 16.8 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 2.8 apg., 80.6% FT, 46 3-pt. FG); Tyler Hilton (17 GP, 7.9 ppg., 2.5 rpg.); Caleb Carpenter (6 GP, 2.7 ppg., 1.7 rpg.)
Juniors: Ty Erisman (10 GP, 2.1 ppg., 1.3 rpg.); Matt Lemaszewski (played on JV team in 2021); Ethan Beachy (17 GP, 6.2 ppg., 3.9 rpg.); Adam Stoltzfus (17 GP, 5.1 ppg., 6.0 rpg); Jackson Whitt (7 GP, 0.1 ppg., 0.1 rpg.)
Sophomores: Seth Beers (17 GP, 8.6 ppg., 3.5 rpg., 2.9 apg.); Grant Sareyka (17 GP, 8.4 ppg., 1.6 rpg.); Jordan Praylow (14 GP, 1.2 ppg., 1.2 rpg.); Austin Gerber (DNP – Injured); Andrew Zentner (17 GP, 12.4 ppg., 7.1 rpg., 57.6% FG, 78% FT); Isaiah Mitchell (3 GP, 0.3 ppg., 0.7 rpg.), Mytchell Parmer (DNP), Cesar Melo Jabes (played on JV team in 2021)
 
Newcomers
Junior: Cole Johnson
Freshmen: JaKari Wilkins, Jevon Wilson, Ryan Hilton, Maureon Tisdale-Couch, Bradye Erb, BiJan Hunter II, Tyshaun Pulley, Zach Goerger, Antonio Osbourne, AJ Switzer, Jalen Glasgow
 
Losses to Graduation / Did Not Return
Tyler Norris (17 GP, 3.8 ppg., 2.8 rpg.), Britton Beachy (17 GP, 5.3 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 3.0 apg.), Kobe Devine (11 GP, 1.5 ppg., 0.5 rpg.), Ethan Hine (2 GP, 0.0 ppg., 0.5 rpg.), Andrew Workman (2 GP, 0.0 ppg., 0.5 rpg.)
 
2021-22 Schedule Notes
The 2021-22 schedule was announced in late September and features several excited non-conference and conference opponents throughout the campaign. Lancaster Bible opens its seasons at the Franklin & Marshall Tip-Off Tournament with Baruch, and depending on the result of that game will play either FDU-Florham or the host Diplomats.
 
Lancaster Bible will then take part in the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament hosted by Geneva in Beaver Falls, Pa. the following weekend, before opening the home portion of its schedule on Tuesday, November 23 against York (Pa.).
 
Following the Thanksgiving break, the Chargers will play the first of two NCAA Division I opponents, as Lancaster Bible battles Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C. United East Conference play kicks off during the first weekend of December, as the Chargers host Morrisville State and Wells, before taking on NCAA Division I foe Robert Morris on December 8 in Moon Township, Pa.
 
Lancaster Bible will wrap-up the first semester with three more games following the Dec. 8 tilt and host Elizabethtown on January 4, 2022, as the cross-county foes battle once again. It will be all United East contests following the game with the Blue Jays, as Lancaster Bible looks to earn one of the four United East Conference playoff spots.
 
Program Notes
-Through 49 seasons of basketball at Lancaster Bible, the Chargers have an overall record of 505-741 (.405)…Over the past 10 years, the Chargers have a record of 167-105 (.614).
-Lancaster Bible has won at least 13 games in each of the last eight seasons, including last season when the Chargers played just 17 games.
-Senior Tyler Hilton is back for his fifth season with the Chargers, and will get to play with his brother, freshman Ryan Hilton
-Fellow senior Jordan Shewbridge enters this season with 1,124 career points, the 21^st in program history…He became the 24^th player in program history with 1,000 points last season in a win over Bryn Athyn.
-Shewbridge has averaged 16.8 points per game in each of the past two seasons
-Lancaster Bible scored 84 or more points eight times last season, including five of the final six games
-Lancaster Bible will play St. Mary's (Md.) for the first time in conference play on Jan. 11 in St. Mary's City, Md.
 
Five Questions for 2021-22 with Head Coach Jon Mack
Q1. Because we haven't played a full season of basketball for almost two years, how do you keep the team fresh for a full 25+ games and have them peaking at the right time?
A: I honestly think last year's schedule may have been tougher for our guys, as we had 51 practices before our first game. It gave us a chance to slow things down and really have guys adjust and learn the system, but it is difficult to practice that long and not have a game.
 
I do expect some peaks and valleys this season because it is a typical full season, and with the return of conference play, we are playing these teams two times and you have to adjust to each team following the first time you play them. I think because we were able to play last season we do have an advantage going into the season, as our sophomores have a good understanding of our system. The challenge as always is make sure guys are peaking in the late January / February window.
 
Q2. What was the advantage of being able to play a 2021 season?
A: Being able to play last year was huge for us. We found our identity last year in the way we played, and we got to play different types of opponents, and had several different game situations. We would win a game by 40 points one night, and then have a nail-biter the next night. It's big for the guys to play different types of games and learn those situations. I like too that we played different divisions, as we got experience playing NCAA Division I schools, other scholarship schools, and high-level NCAA Division III schools like Northwestern (Minn.), Salisbury, St. Mary's (Md.), and others.
 
Q3. There are six non-conference games against a wide variety of opponents prior to the open of United East Conference play on Dec. 3-4. What are you hoping to learn in those opening games prior to the start of conference action?
A: I think we need to find a rotation to fit what we are trying to do over the course of those first six games. Like all teams, we are dealing with injuries and there is always COVID lingering in the background, but I think we are hoping to see our young guys continue to mesh with the returners.
 
Our young guys are thinking right now, rather than using their instincts, and making that adjustment takes time. We want to see their personalities come out and use their instincts on the floor, and we think that will come, but it does take time.
 
From our returners, we want to see their leadership and experience come through. We lost two great senior leaders in Tyler Norris and Britton Beachy, and they are incredibly hard to replace. Right now we have a leadership-by-committee, and we want to see our returners step up.
 
Q4. We are celebrating 50 years of basketball here at Lancaster Bible College this year, as our men's and women's basketball teams take the floor for their 50^th season of play. It's only your third year at Lancaster Bible, but for the last 25 years or so, you've played against or coached against Lancaster Bible. What does it mean to you and the team to be here for the 50^th year of basketball?
A: It is a privilege and an honor to be a part of the 50^th year of basketball at Lancaster Bible. I think since 2013, the men's basketball program has taken off and the pieces have been coming together for a special program. Even before that however, there was always a drive towards excellence and doing things the right way, and I think that is a big part of this program.
 
Yes, we want to win games and be successful on the floor, but even more so, we want to be successful to expand the platform of the school and show Christ to others. I think this program has done a great job of expanding the institution's platform, and we look forward to continuing that this season.
 
Q5. What does a successful 2021-22 season look like?
A: I would break it into two parts – our goal and our aim. Our goal is we want to be worthy of winning a conference championship and playing in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. Our aim is be excellent in everything that we do so that we can continue to expand the platform of Lancaster Bible College. The aim is the why of our goal. We want to be successful on the floor, so we can expand the mission of the school.
 
Our conference is going to be extremely tough, and I believe will surprise some folks around the country. Penn St. Harrisburg is a good, well-coached team, St. Mary's (Md.) is coming in and having played them last season, they are tough. Morrisville State always has a strong team, and all of the other teams are tough play every night we play them.
 
With only four playoff teams in the United East Conference, we can't afford to take nights off, and every game will be competitive. We are looking forward to the season, and getting back to playing a full year of basketball.
 
Season Links
Team Roster
2021-22 Schedule
2021 Statistics
Program History
Charger Sports Network