CRESSON, Pa. – The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) announced its 2026-27 Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, with Mount Aloysius College projected to finish eighth in the conference standings. Despite the preseason expectations, a new era of Mountie basketball is set to begin as first-year head coach Pat Martinelli prepares to lead a significantly revamped roster into the upcoming campaign.
Martinelli, who was named head coach on April 16, 2026, has wasted little time reshaping the program. Since his arrival, the Mounties have welcomed 14 newcomers from across the United States and around the world, including six players from Australia and several transfers with previous collegiate experience. Combined with nine returning players from last season, Mount Aloysius enters the year with a new look and renewed expectations.
The Mounties are coming off a difficult 2025-26 campaign in which they finished 4-21 overall and missed the AMCC postseason. With a combination of veteran returners, international talent, and experienced transfers, Martinelli will look to establish a new identity and guide Mount Aloysius back into conference tournament contention.
Martinelli Begins New Era of Mountie Basketball
Martinelli arrives in Cresson with an extensive background in recruiting, player development, and building competitive collegiate basketball programs.
Prior to taking over the Mounties, Martinelli served as an assistant coach at Carnegie Mellon University, where he helped guide the Tartans to an at-large berth in the 2024 NCAA Division III Tournament, marking the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009.
During his tenure at Carnegie Mellon, Martinelli played an important role in recruiting and developing several standout players, including Nikola Dimitrijevic, who earned First Team All-University Athletic Association (UAA) honors and All-Region recognition during the 2025-26 season.
Martinelli brings that recruiting experience to Mount Aloysius, where he has assembled one of the program's most geographically diverse incoming classes in recent years.
Joining Martinelli on the sidelines is returning assistant coach Dameon Turner, a former Mount Aloysius men's basketball player who enters his fourth season as an assistant coach. Turner's familiarity with the program, its returning players, and the AMCC will provide valuable continuity as the Mounties transition into a new era under Martinelli.
Tinch, Bass-Briscoe Named Players to Watch
Despite the significant roster changes, Mount Aloysius returns two of its most productive players from last season in seniors Troy Tinch (Baltimore, Md., Calvert Hall) and Donovan Bass-Briscoe (Alexandria, Va., Hayfield). Both were recognized as Players to Watch for the Mounties in the AMCC preseason poll.
Tinch returns after leading Mount Aloysius in scoring during the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 15.0 points per game across 24 appearances, including 21 starts. The Baltimore, Maryland, native shot an impressive 52.5 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three-point range while averaging 5.1 rebounds per contest. Tinch also connected on 80 percent of his free-throw attempts, establishing himself as one of the team's most efficient offensive threats.
One of Tinch's standout performances came in a 98-87 victory over Penn State Altoona on February 11, when he recorded a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds. His offensive production and experience will be instrumental as the Mounties look to improve on last season's record.
Bass-Briscoe also returns for his senior campaign after an impressive 2025-26 season in which he averaged 14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. The Alexandria, Virginia, native appeared in all 25 contests, making 21 starts, and shot 53.5 percent from the field.
In addition to his scoring ability, Bass-Briscoe led the Mounties with 95 assists and 39 steals, showcasing his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. His playmaking and defensive presence will be particularly valuable as Martinelli incorporates numerous newcomers into the lineup.
Bass-Briscoe delivered several strong performances last season, including a 23-point outing in the Mounties' victory over Penn State Altoona and a 19-point, seven-rebound, five-assist performance against Carlow late in the season.
With both players returning for their final collegiate campaigns, Mount Aloysius will rely on their leadership, scoring ability, and experience to help guide a roster featuring plenty of new faces.
Fourteen Newcomers Highlight Revamped Roster
Perhaps the biggest storyline surrounding Mount Aloysius entering the 2026-27 season is the arrival of 14 new players since Martinelli took over the program in April.
The incoming group features a strong international presence, with six players arriving from Australia, along with newcomers from Spain, Montenegro, and various locations throughout the United States. The international recruiting effort brings a different dimension to the Mounties' roster as Martinelli looks to establish a competitive foundation for the program.
Among the notable additions is graduate transfer Noah Wright (Penn Trafford, Pa. , Penn Trafford), who arrives from NCAA Division II Seton Hill University. Wright, a native of Export, Pennsylvania, and graduate of Penn-Trafford High School, brings experience competing at the Division II level in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
The 5-foot-10 guard appeared in 21 games for the Griffins during the 2025-26 season, making one start. Wright scored 23 points and connected on seven three-pointers during his junior campaign. His previous collegiate experience provides another option in the Mounties' backcourt.
Martinelli also added several other transfers, including Louis Couch (Centreville, Va. , Southern Maryland Christian Academy), Joshua Henderson (Dallas, Tex., Prince of Peace), Miguel Martinez (Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Arlington), and Donovahn Keyes (Stafford, Va., Fairfax Christian). The group brings additional collegiate experience to a Mount Aloysius roster looking to develop chemistry and establish consistency throughout the season.
The Mounties' international recruiting class also includes Guillem Selles (Girona, Spain, CE Palamos), who arrives from Spain, and Lazar Vujosevic (Podgorica, Montenegro, Winston Salem Christian School), who joins the program from Montenegro. Their additions, along with the six Australian newcomers, give Mount Aloysius a roster featuring players from multiple countries and basketball backgrounds.
Andrew Lindstrom (Hamburg, N.Y., St. Francis), a newcomer from New York, is another addition to Martinelli's first recruiting class.
With 14 newcomers joining nine returning players, the Mounties will enter the season with numerous options as Martinelli evaluates combinations and establishes his rotation. The challenge will be bringing together players from different backgrounds and levels of experience while developing the chemistry necessary to compete in the AMCC.
For a program looking to rebound from last season's struggles, the influx of talent represents an opportunity to build a new foundation and change the direction of Mount Aloysius men's basketball.
Mounties Look to Exceed Preseason Expectations
Penn State Behrend was selected as the preseason favorite to capture the 2026-27 AMCC championship, earning the top spot in the conference's coaches' poll.
La Roche University followed in second, while Penn State Altoona rounded out the top three. Hilbert College was projected fourth, followed by Pitt-Greensburg in fifth and Pitt-Bradford in sixth.
Carlow University was selected seventh, while Mount Aloysius rounded out the eight-team preseason poll.
Although the Mounties enter the season projected eighth, the significant roster turnover and arrival of a new coaching staff provide an opportunity to exceed those expectations.
With nine returning players, including two established senior leaders, and 14 additions from a variety of basketball backgrounds, Mount Aloysius will look to improve its standing in the conference and return to postseason contention.
Mounties Open 2026-27 Campaign Monday Against Juniata
Mount Aloysius will officially begin the 2026-27 season on Monday, November 9, when the Mounties welcome Juniata College to the Athletic, Convocation and Wellness Center (ACWC) for a 6:00 p.m. matchup.
The season opener will mark Martinelli's first official game as head coach of the Mounties, giving the program an opportunity to showcase its new-look roster in front of the home crowd.
With a fresh coaching staff, an experienced returning core, and an influx of talent from across the globe, Mount Aloysius enters the upcoming campaign eager to establish a new identity and take the next step toward becoming a contender in the AMCC.
The Mounties will also celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, February 20, when they welcome Carlow University to the ACWC for a 2:00 p.m. non-conference matchup.
#GoMounties
