ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's basketball team has been picked to finish third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division, according to the league's preseason coaches poll released Thursday afternoon. In addition, Stephen Battle (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) was named to the Preseason All-PSAC Western Division team.

The preseason rankings were announced in conjunction with the PSAC Basketball Local Media Day which featured the women's and men's basketball teams from Gannon, Mercyhurst and Edinboro. The event was held at Mercyhurst's Heritage Room.

Indiana (Pa.) is the preseason favorite in the PSAC Western Division, accumulating six of the eight first-place votes. The Crimson Hawks won the PSAC Western Division regular-season and tournament championships the last two seasons, as well as the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region title in 2010.

California (Pa.) and Gannon finished second and third, respectively. Both teams picked up one first-place vote. Mercyhurst, Slippery Rock, Clarion, Edinboro and Lock Haven rounded out the poll.

Four different teams earned first-place votes in the Eastern Division. Kutztown is the preseason favorite in the East, taking home three first-place votes. East Stroudsburg also earned three first-place votes, but finished second.

Bloomsburg, Mansfield, West Chester, Cheyney, Millersville and Shippensburg rounded out the Eastern Division rankings. Mansfield and West Chester both captured a first-place vote.

Gannon returns three starters from last year's 15-11 squad, posting at least 15 wins for the third time in the last four seasons. The Golden Knights have made three post-season appearances in the last four campaigns. The program won the PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Region championships in 2009.

Battle joined six other student-athletes on the Preseason All-PSAC Western Division team, but he was the only sophomore or freshman named to the squad.

The Waldorf, Md., native was named PSAC Western Division Freshman of the Year last season. Battle averaged 12.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists as a true freshman. The forward shot 56.2 percent (118-210) from the field, 40 percent (10-25) from three-point range and 65.6 percent (81-125) from the free throw line. He ranked seventh among PSAC players in field goal percentage, 14th in defensive rebounds per game (4.3), 19th in rebounding and 21st in scoring.

Battle reached double digits in scoring 18 times last season, including a streak of seven consecutive games January 15-February 5. He scored at least 19 points six times and recorded double-doubles during both games against Lock Haven. In addition, he missed a double-double by two rebounds or less seven times.

The remainder of the Preseason All-PSAC Western Division Team was filled by senior Julian Sanders (IUP), senior Ashton Smith (IUP), senior Steven Swiech (California), senior Bud Teer (Clarion) and junior Luis Leao (Mercyhurst).

The Preseason All-Eastern Division Team consisted of senior Nate Edwards (Kutztown), senior Trevon Johnson (Bloomsburg), senior Larry Webster (Bloomsburg), junior Duane Johnson (East Stroudsburg), junior Terrance King (East Stroudsburg) and sophomore Dontahe Jordan (Bloomsburg).

For the complete 2011 PSAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll and the Preseason All-PSAC Men's Basketball teams, please click here.