FAIRMONT -
The Fairmont State University basketball teams opened the season at home, Tuesday. It was a loss for the men, falling to Point Park 107 to 100.
Looking at the season as a whole, FSU interim Head Coach Brett Vincent said he thinks the Falcons will be very competitive after getting a few games under their belt.
The team will have to adjust quickly to coaching changes, Vincent was named the interim coach just days before the season started. Former head coach Tim Murphy is no long employed by the university.
Vincent admitted the newcomers have struggled to pick up the system but believes the six new players will contribute down the stretch.
The Falcons do have very talented players back on the court. Issac Thornton is just a junior and he will definitely be the player to stop. In his first year, Thornton was named WVIAC Freshman of the Year and last season he was a First-Team All-WVIAC pick, averaging almost 20 points a game.
Steve Custis is another returning starter for Fairmont. He averaged more than 16 points and four rebounds per game last year.
Melvin Rhodes will start this season, after being a solid sixth man in his junior season.
Coach Vincent said the entire team has talent, even if the first game's final score doesn't reflect that.
"We think we've got some potential to play right with the best teams in the league. We think we are one of the better teams in the West Virginia conference," said Coach Vincent. "We didn't prove it tonight, struggled in several areas of the game, but we think we have the potential to be pretty good by mid January."
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