Baltimore, MD – Bluefield State University men's basketball has been picked 2^nd in the 2026-27 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) predicted order of finish, as announced by the conference on Tuesday during CIAA Basketball Media Day. Senior's Ellija Preddy and Anthony Davenport were both named to the All-CIAA preseason team.

Preddy led the Big Blue during the 2025-26 season, starting all 33 games while leading the team in assists with 146. Preddy averaged 12.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while adding 57 steals and shooting 75% from the line. Davenport averaged 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 81% from the line. Davenport made 43 threes and registered 15 blocks.

The Big Blue finished the 25-26 season with an overall record of 17-16 and 11-5 in conference play, capped by a postseason run to the CIAA Championship game. The Big Blue will open the 26-27 season at the Conference Challenge hosted by Slippery Rock University November 13^th – 14^th.

2026–27 CIAA Men's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish

1. Fayetteville State University
2. Bluefield State University
3. Virginia State University
4. Claflin University
5. Virginia Union University
6. Winston-Salem State University
7. Johnson C. Smith University
8. Lincoln University (Pa.)
9. Bowie State University
10. Livingstone College
11. Shaw University
12. Elizabeth City State University

2026–27 CIAA Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team

Malachi Dark, Virginia Union University*
Jaiden McGhee, Bowie State University*
James Nipper, Livingstone College*
Ellija Preddy, Bluefield State University
Jared Davis, Johnson C. Smith University
Anthony Davenport, Bluefield State University
Travon Cooper II, Fayetteville State University
Joseph Allen III, Fayetteville State University
Davian Coleman, Virginia State University
Julius Olanrewaju, Lincoln University (Pa.)
Ronald Bridges, Jr., Winston-Salem State University

* Indicates a student-athlete who earned All-CIAA honors last season.

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