American Southwest Conference men's basketball coaches, sports information directors and media have picked East Texas Baptist University to finish fifth in the 2009-10 ASC East Division Preseason Men's Basketball Poll released Tuesday by the conference office.

ETBU (14-11 in 2008-09) received 82 points in the voting, two behind Texas-Tyler (12-14) for the fourth spot in the poll. Defending conference champion Texas-Dallas (26-5) received 133 points and 13 first-place votes to out-distance Mississippi College (20-7), which got 125 points and seven first-place votes.

LeTourneau (16-10) was third with 99 points and one first-place vote. Rounding out the poll in sixth place was Ozarks (10-15) with 37 points and Louisiana College (4-20) with 28.

LeTourneau senior guard Dale Vanwright was named the ASC East Division Preseason Player of the Year.

The Tigers finished one game out of the ASC postseason tournament last spring, despite an 8-3 record against the East Division. ETBU returns three starters from last season in senior forward James Morman, junior post Josh Chambers and junior point guard Jacob Turnipseed, along with a pair of key reserves in junior forward Deba Egharevba and sophomore guard Kendre' Smith.

ETBU plays at Northwestern State University in an exhibition game on Nov. 13 and will open the season on Nov. 23 with a road game at LSU-Shreveport. The Tigers' home opener is set for Nov. 28 against Sul Ross State.