Raven 2025-26 Basketball Previews

The Anderson University women's basketball team faces off with Otterbein University on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium. Anderson men's basketball team is slated for two games in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium, which includes matchups with Hope College on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and The University of Olivet on Saturday at 3 p.m. Men's Basketball 2025 graduate Tate Ivanyo will be presented his national awards at halftime of Friday's men's basketball game vs. Hope.

Women's Basketball Faces Off with Otterbein

Last season, Anderson went 13-13 overall and put together a 9-9 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) record to tie for fourth place in the HCAC standings. The Ravens then advanced to the HCAC Tournament semifinals. Otterbein University went 13-14 overall with an 8-10 record in the Ohio Athletic Conference last season. The Cardinals earned the No. 6 seed in the OAC Tournament and advanced to the OAC Tournament semifinals.

Anderson returns 4-of-5 starters and 10-of-16 players from last year's roster. Senior Izzy Davis returns after garnering first-team all-HCAC honors and HCAC all-tournament recognition. She led the team with 14.6 points per game, which ranked eighth in the conference. Davis dished out 4.9 assists per game, which led the conference and ranked 20th in the nation. She also finished fourth in the HCAC in assist-turnover ratio (1.19) and 10th in the HCAC in free-throw percentage (.763). Junior Victoria Detraz after receiving all-HCAC Honorable Mention. Detraz racked up 2.65 blocks per game, which led the HCAC and ranked 11th in the nation. She also contributed 8.5 rebounds per game, which ranked sixth in the conference.

After missing the 2024-25 season due to injury, Sydney Sierota returns for her senior season. Sierota was named to the 2023-24 HCAC Newcomer Team. She led the conference with 2.8 steals per game. Sierota contributed 6.5 points per game and ranked 11th in the conference with 2.4 assists per game. Senior Bella Larrison provided 9.3 points per game and ranked 15th in the HCAC with 6.4 rebounds per game. Sophomore Paige Williamson was named to the HCAC Newcomer Team during the 2024-25 season after averaging 5.9 points per game. Senior Sarah Sewak posted an average of 9.4 points per game while senior Lauren Smith turned in 4.9 points per game. Anderson also added six freshmen to its roster.

Men's Basketball Battles Hope, Olivet

Last season, Anderson went 22-6 with a 15-3 HCAC record. The Ravens won a share of their third consecutive HCAC regular-season title and won their second consecutive HCAC regular-season title outright. Anderson advanced to the HCAC Tournament Championship, but fell in the final. The Ravens just missed the NCAA Tournament after finishing No. 41 in the final NPI rankings. Hope went 16-12 overall and 9-5 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) action last year. The Flying Dutchmen took third in the MIAA standings and advanced to the MIAA Tournament Championship. Olivet finished 11-16 with an 8-6 MIAA record last season. The Comets claimed fourth in the MIAA standings and advanced to the MIAA Tournament Semifinals.

The Ravens graduated Tate Ivanyo, who collected numerous accolades last season, but Anderson returns multiple major award winners. Anderson returns 4-of-5 starters, 12-of-17 players from last year's roster and added two transfers. The Ravens return junior Bryce Williams, who garnered first-team all-HCAC honors, D3hoops.com third-team all-region recognition and HCAC All-Tournament honors. Williams led the conference with 4.25 assists per game. Among HCAC leaders, Williams ranked 10th in points per game (14.0), second in assist-turnover ratio (1.75), fifth in field-goal percentage (.505) and eighth in steals per game (1.6). Junior Rob Davidson returns after being named the 2024-25 HCAC Defensive Player of the Year and earning all-HCAC Honorable Mention. Davidson collected 2.82 steals per game, which led the conference and ranked 14th in the nation. Among HCAC leaders, Davidson ranked 17th in points per game (11.9), seventh in rebounds per game (7.3) and seventh in free-throw percentage (.774).

After spending a season at Saginaw Valley State University, the Ravens return senior Elijah Mattingly. Mattingly holds the Anderson D-III era career record of 122 blocks. He was named the 2023-24 HCAC Defensive Player of the Year and earned second-team all-HCAC recognition during the 2023-24 year. Among 2023-24 NCAA D-III leaders, Mattingly ranked eighth in blocks per game (2.7) and 39th in rebounds per game (9.8), while leading the conference in both categories. Mattingly also ranked 13th in the conference in points per game (12.0) and eighth in the conference in steals per game (1.3). Senior Kenney Troutman returns after receiving all-HCAC Honorable Mention and finishing 15th in the HCAC with 12.3 points per game. Senior Axel Laby ranked second in the conference with 1.5 blocks per game last season. He also provided 4.3 points per game. Sophomore Nolan Swan returns after contributing 10.9 points per game. Anderson also added Glen Oaks Community College sophomore transfer Will Jamison in addition to four freshmen to its roster.