WARREN, Mich. – They're back! The fourth-ranked Macomb Men's Basketball team will open their season on Tuesday (Nov. 4) with a huge road test at Vincennes University (Ind.). The Trailblazers (2-0) are ranked fourth in the NJCAA Division I preseason poll and opened their season with two victories this past weekend. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the PE Complex in Vincennes, Ind. 
 
LAST SEASON: Last season was another one for the history books as Macomb finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 30-6 overall record and 11-3 mark in MCCAA Eastern Conference play, culminating in the program's third consecutive trip to the NJCAA DII National Championship. The Monarchs finished fifth at the national tournament to cap off their latest successful season that featured the second half of back-to-back MCCAA Eastern Conference Championships and the program's third consecutive Great Lakes District Championship.
 
VENUE UPDATE: Due to extensive year-long renovations to Macomb's Sport and Expo Center, the Monarchs will play their first 16 games of the season on the road. The Monarchs are set to play their seven home conference games this season at the Matthaei Center on the campus of Wayne State University. 

SCOUTING VINCENNES: A perennial power in the NJCAA DI ranks, the Trailblazers enter Tuesday's game with a 2-0 record after picking up home victories over Volunteer State Community College (93-57) and Columbia State Community College (81-68).
 
Last season, Vincennes posted a 28-5 overall record en route to a NJCAA DI Quarterfinal appearance. 
 
Players to watch for the Trailblazers include Dayton Williams, who averaged 11 points and 5.6 rebounds in 33 games last season. Against Volunteer State, he scored 17 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Another player to watch is Alex Montes, who tallied 23 points and six rebounds off the bench against Volunteer State. 
 
A LOOK AT MACOMB: Christopher Burns enters his third season as head coach of the Monarchs in 2025-26. In two seasons, Burns has led the Monarchs to a 61-10 overall record and 24-4 mark in conference play, while also winning back-to-back MCCAA Eastern Conference and Great Lakes District Championships. 
 
Despite losing plenty of talent, including seeing their entire starting five from last season going to the NCAA DI and DII ranks, the Monarchs retained a handful of key pieces and brought in great depth that features newcomers with varied collegiate experience. The trio of Lajuan Holloway, Malachi Irving and Caron Williams will look to make the 'sophomore jump' this year after being key pieces to the Monarchs' successful 2024-25 campaign. Williams averaged 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season, while Holloway posted an average of 6.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest and Irving added 5.6 points and 3.6 boards per outing. Another familiar face on the roster, Keithan Gilmore, will finally get a chance to make an impact after redshirting last year. 
 
Several transfers will look to make an immediate impact as Kamari Barden, Tabari Howard and Donald Wilburn all come to Macomb with a season of experience in Region 12 action. Jaylon Jackson, a NCAA DII transfer, is also expected to play a big role for Burns and the Monarchs this season.
 
A cast of eight incoming freshmen brought in by Burns and company strengthens a deep roster that features the following players that enjoyed celebrated high school careers: Chinasa Agbaeze, Joey Angok, Brighton Birangui-Booto, Justin Gloster, Sebastian Randolph, Daniel Sotero-Martinez, Simon Stockwell and Dante Wimberly.

WATCH: Tuesday's season-opening road game at Vincennes will be streamed live on the Vincennes University Athletics YouTube Channel.
 
UP NEXT: After Tuesday's contest, Macomb will have just over a week off before their next game at Region 12 counterpart Edison State Community College. Tip-off for that game is set for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Nov. 12) in Piqua, Ohio.