HUNTINGTON – The men’s basketball coaches in the Crossroads League have spoken.

The league’s 10 coaches, who gathered on Monday at Huntington University for its League Media Day, have tabbed Indiana Wesleyan University as the team to beat for the 2015-16 campaign. IWU is the defending league champion.

Grace College was picked to finish in third place by the coaches behind the University of Saint Francis. Bethel College was tabbed to finish fourth in the league.

Mount Vernon University was picked fifth, followed by Huntington, Goshen, Taylor, Marian and Spring Arbor.

Bethel College junior Clay Yeo was voted Preseason First Team All-Crossroads League, and voted third for Preseason League Player of the Year. Yeo, a former star at Triton High School, had a stellar sophomore year with the Pilots last season after transferring from Valparaiso University.

Bethel’s Paul Forman was honored to the All- Freshman Team as Preseason Freshman of the Year.

Indiana Wesleyan University guard Jonny Marlin, who helped guide the Wildcats to a 30-3 record while scoring 13.1 points per game last season, received the nod as Crossroads League Preseason Player of the Year. Marlin edged out forward Austin Fox from the University of Saint Francis followed by Bethel’s own Clay Yeo.

Grace guard Logan Irwin, a product of Whitko High School, was tabbed to the preseason all-league second team. Brandon Vanderhegghen of the Lancers was also named to the second team and Josh Ruggles to the all-freshman team.

Grace will open its season at home versus Ohio Midwestern on Oct. 30 at 9 p.m. and begin league play by hosting Taylor on Nov. 24 at 7 p.m.

Bethel will begin league play also on Nov. 24 at home against Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Crossroads League 2015-16 Preseason Poll

Team

1. Indiana Wesleyan University

2. University of Saint Francis

3. Grace College

4. Bethel College

5. Mount Vernon Nazarene University

6. Huntington University

7. Goshen College

8. Taylor University

9. Marian University

10 Spring Arbor University

2015-16 Preseason All-Crossroads League Team

First Team

Jonny Marlin- Indiana Wesleyan University (Pre-Season Player of the Year)

Austin Fox – University of Saint Francis

Clay Yeo- Bethel College

Dion Smith- Marian University

Lane Mahurin- Indiana Wesleyan University

Second Team

Logan Irwin- Grace College

Derek Hinen- Huntington University

Kegan Comer- University of Saint Francis

Brandon Vanderhegghen- Grace College

Bob Peters- Indiana Wesleyan University

Third Team

Kyle Stidom- Taylor University

Daniel Wall- Huntington University

Bryce Lienhoop- University of Saint Francis

Eric Roby- Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Jacob Johnson- Indiana Wesleyan University

All-Freshman Team

Paul Forman- Bethel College

Grant Zawadski- Indiana Wesleyan University

Josh Ruggles- Grace College

Zach Rutland- Huntington University

Perry Poindexter- University of Saint Francis