Season Begins On Friday For No. 2 Firestorm

Glendale, Ariz.- On Friday, Arizona Christian University Men's Basketball will begin their 2025-26 season by hosting Lewis-Clark State College in the ACU Events Center. The NAIA Men's Basketball preseason poll was released on Wednesday and the Firestorm will start the year as the number two team in the country. Earlier in the week, the five time defending regular season GSAC champion Arizona Christian was selected as the conference preseason favorite.

Game Details
Lewis-Clark State - Friday, October 24 at 6:00 pm
Arizona Christian University
ACU Events Center - Glendale, AZ
Tickets are only available for purchase online- Click Here
Pricing- General Admission ($10), Senior 65+ ($5), Active Military/Veteran ($5), ACU Alumni ($5), Kids ages 10 and under (free)

Live Coverage
Live Video - https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/
Live Stats - https://acufirestorm.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

Arizona Christian
The 2024-25 squad completed the season with a record of 30-5 and advanced all the way to the NAIA Fab Four. The Firestorm won their fifth consecutive GSAC Regular Season Championship and second straight GSAC Tournament championship.

Ese Onakpoma, a third Team NAIA All-American and GSAC Defensive Player of the Year, is one of only four returners from last year's squad. Thirteen newcomers join two players moving up the ACU club teams to total the 15 new players on the 2025-26 squad. Fifteen of the 19 guys on the roster are a junior or higher.

A number two ranking for the Firestorm will be tested early and often as they face four teams in the NAIA top ten including number three Georgetown (KY) four games in the season. Just after Thanksgiving, Arizona Christian will meet up with defending national champion and preseason number one- College of Idaho. The Yotes ended the 2024-25 season for the Firestorm in the NAIA Semifinals (Fab Four). For the complete schedule- Click Here.

Series Notes
The Firestorm are 3-1 all-time against the LCSC Warriors. ACU has won two straight meetings with the wins coming on the road in Lewiston last season and at home in Glendale in 2022-23.

Lewis-Clark State
The Warriors wrapped up their 2024-25 season with a record of 24-8. LCSC qualified for the NAIA First Round. John Lustig is the top returning playmaker with 12.6 points and 2.6 assists.

Roll Storm!

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Players Mentioned

#2 Ese Onakpoma: G; 6' 4"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#2 Ese Onakpoma
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

Players Mentioned

#2 Ese Onakpoma

Players Mentioned

#2 Ese Onakpoma