Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Mount Saint Mary’s

After finishing 2nd in the Northeast Conference last season with an 18-14 record, Mount Saint Mary’s was picked to finish last in their league in the preseason poll. The Mountaineers lost head coach Jamion Christian, who had been up in Maryland with them for the past 6 seasons, leading them to a conference championship, and a NCAA Tournament birth 2 years ago, before taking the Sienna job this season.

Dan Engelstad is the new head coach at Mount Saint Mary’s, and he will lead one of the youngest rosters in the nation in his first season: 1 graduate student, 7 Sophomores and 9 Freshmen.

Sophomore Omar Habwe is the most experienced returnee, averaging 2.6 points in 11.1 minutes per game last year.

The Mountaineers haven’t won a season opener since 2008.

Here’s a look at Mount Saint Mary’s Projected Starting Lineup:

Freshman Guard Vado Morse (6’0″/155)
Sophomore Guard Jalen Gibbs (6’3″/180) – Played 32 games for Drake last year (3.3 points in 10.8 minutes per game), but received a NCAA waiver granting him eligibility to play this season.
Graduate Guard KJ Scott (6’4″/205) – Averaged 12.6 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 7 games last season with Texas Southern before suffering a season-ending injury.
Redshirt Freshman Forward Nana Opoku (6’8″/186) – Redshirted last season
Freshman Forward Malik Jefferson (6’9″/230)

Mount Saint Mary’s played one exhibition game before facing the Wolfpack, squeaking out a 87-81 victory over Hood College. Five Mountaineer players scored in double-figures, with Gibbs leading the way with 23 points. Morse had 13 points and 4 assists, and Opoku had 12 points and 6 rebounds. Jefferson posted the only double-double, scoring 10 points and snagging 11 boards. Habwe had 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks off of the bench.