PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Approximately 620 days since last playing an official game, the Pace University men's basketball team will begin its 2021-22 season this weekend with a pair of non-conference home games.

Opening Weekend
The Setters will serve as the hosts of the 2021 "Conference Challenge" inside the Goldstein Fitness Center. Pace will take on Molloy College on Saturday at 5 p.m. before facing Chestnut Hill College on Sunday at 4 p.m.

"Last" Season
The Setters tallied a 19-11 record in their last season of competition in 2019-20. Pace began its campaign with nine consecutive victories, which resulted in the team being slotted at No. 23 in the NABC's National Top-25.

Coach Healing's squad ended up finishing fourth in the conference standings in 2019-20. They went on to defeat fifth-seeded, SNHU, in the NE10 Quarterfinals before falling at top-seeded Saint Anselm in the semis.

Graduate Guards
Pace's 2021-22 squad features an extremely veteran backcourt of graduate students, Brandon Jacobs (Cambria Heights, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) and Austin Gilbertson (Etters, Pa./Trinity). The duo enters the year with a combined 173 total starts and more than 2,000 career points and 700 career assists.

Jacobs, who was named to the NE10's All-Conference Third Team as a junior, already owns Pace's all-time assists record in just three seasons of work. He also broke the Setters' single-season and single-game marks in 2019-20.

Other Returners
Junior forwards, Christian Adams (New Haven, Conn./Hamden Hall) and Bryan Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Canterbury School), were also key contributors in 2019-20. The twosome combined for 29 starts as rookies—each averaging more than eight points per game. Powell also registered 6.8 rebounds per contest, and led the Setters with 40 total blocks.

Setter Transfers
Pace's roster features a trio of transfer students, including Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush)—the twin brother of Bryan. Powell averaged more than eight points, four rebounds and one steal per game over his last two seasons at Division I, Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Senior Marc Dadika (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saint Mary's Rutherford) is also a transfer from FDU, while Dominick Cristiano (Valhalla, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic/Greens Farm Academy) is in his second year at Pace following three seasons played at NYU.

Syracuse Exhibition
The Setters enjoyed the terrific experience of playing an exhibition contest inside the historic Carrier Dome on Oct. 27. Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) led Pace's offense with a team-high 15 points, while also recording seven rebounds and a steal.

Jacobs and Bryan Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Canterbury School) also reached double figures, notching 13 and 11 points respectively, while Gilbertson dished out a game-high nine assists.

TICKETS?
Tickets for the 2021-22 men's basketball season will be on sale online only via Pace University Ticketing | Athletics - Ticket Office Home (universitytickets.com). Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children under 12 and seniors. Pace University staff and students are free with a University ID. Tickets must be purchased in advanced.

Those in attendance for the 2021-22 season must adhere to Pace University's COVID-19 In-person spectator policy (as of Oct. 11, 2021).  



Follow Along
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