PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men's basketball team checked in third overall in the 2025-26 Little East Conference (LEC) Coaches' Preseason Poll, as announced by the league on Tuesday. It marks the second consecutive year the Corsairs have been selected third in the preseason poll.
The Corsairs edged Eastern Connecticut State University (41) after collecting 48 total points along with one of the nine potential first-place votes in the preseason poll. Keene State College were tabbed the league favorites with 61 points and six first-place votes after winning their fourth straight LEC Championship title last season. The Wolves of Western Connecticut State University earned 53 points and one first-place vote to take second overall while Rhode Island College rounded out the top-5 with 36 points.
UMass Dartmouth finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 9-17 overall record and a 6-10 mark in conference action. The Corsairs have seven newcomers joining the 2025-26 squad along with seven returners including senior center
Ryan Flauto. Flauto led the team with 139 total rebounds last year, marking a career-high with 85 defensive and 54 offensive, and averaged a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game. The senior center also led the 2024-25 team with a 61.8 made field goal percentage and produced four double-doubles in the season.
Senior center
Cam Dunbury returns after leading the Corsairs with 33 total blocks averaging 1.40 blocks per game, both ranking third overall in the Little East. Last season, he posted his first career double-double as a Corsair on January 8
th versus Rhode Island College with 15 points and 12 rebounds as well as three blocks and two steals.
A two-time LEC Rookie of the Week selection, sophomore guard
Camden DiChiara returns to the team following an impressive debut season. DiChiara dropped 286 total points, good for third most points on the team, averaging 11.4 points per game in 25 games played. With 49 made three-pointers, DiChiara finished the season second overall on the team with a 40.5 three-point shooting percentage.
Sophomore guard
Danny Reyes also came off a standout rookie season for UMass Dartmouth with 148 total points and the second-most assists on the squad with 65. The sophomore guard recorded a triple-double for the Corsairs on February 8
th against VTSU Castleton after posting 14 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in a 108-73 victory over the Spartans.
Head coach
Brian Baptiste, entering his 43
rd season at the helm of the men's basketball program, was named the recipient of the 2025 Jack Bennett Man of the Year award last season. Baptiste has garnered an overall record of 729-405 for a .643 winning percentage while also owning a 333-183 mark in conference action. Among active head coaches in NCAA Division III, Baptiste boasts the most victories with 729 to date. Additionally, Baptiste ranks 10
th overall all-time in total wins by a head coach in Division III while also sitting 13
th overall among active coaches across all divisions.
The Corsairs kick off the 2025-26 season on Saturday, November 8
th hosting the annual LaFrance Hospitality Men's Basketball Tournament. UMass Dartmouth face Brooklyn College at 7:00 p.m. for their season-home opener.
