Men's Basketball Ready For Start Of The Season

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass -- The Merrimack College men's basketball team is back.

The Warriors, who are coming off the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) 2025-26 regular-season championship and an appearance in the conference championship, enter the 2026-27 season with nine new players. Merrimack concluded the previous season with a program record for wins (23-11) and a perfect 12-0 record at Lawler Arena.

Joe Gallo and company were picked to finish second in the Metro Conference Preaseason Coaches' Poll. 

"I think that says a lot just to who we are as a program," Gallo said. 

Among the newcomers is graduate transfer Denver Anglin, who was voted a First-Team selection in the Preseason Coaches' Poll. Anglin transferred from Metro Conference rival Iona University after he averaged 9.3 points per game and dished 150-plus assists last season. 

Todd Brogna, who was voted a Second-Team honoree in the preseason poll, is one of the few returners for Merrimack. The senior forward averaged 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season, and gives Merrimack both a presence in the paint and in the locker room.

Another key addition comes in the form of graduate transfer A.J. Lesburt Jr., who played four seasons at Brown. Lesburt averaged double-figures for the Bears in 2024-25 before he took the 2025-26 season off. 

"They're all proven at our level," Gallo said. "Three older guys who have played a ton of minutes, they've played a ton of games. They've helped show the way for some of these young guys during practice. We have a really good mix of old and young on this team."

The Warriors open their season in The Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Monday morning. It's part of a challenging non-conference slate, which will feature the likes of preseason No. 1 Florida and preseason No. 6 Michigan State. 

Merrimack will hosts its first home game Thursday, Nov. 6, and start Metro Conference play Dec. 4.