SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- The Shippensburg University men's basketball team will tip off its 2012-13 season this weekend with the annual Wolf's Bus Lines Classic from Heiges Field House on Friday and Saturday. The Raiders welcome Salem International, Chestnut Hill and fellow PSAC school Lock Haven for the two-day competition.

SU will play the nightcap on both days this weekend, squaring off against Chestnut Hill -- a CACC squad that went 18-12 last season -- on Friday and Salem International on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to start at approximately 8 p.m., depending on the length of the day's three prior games.

The Bald Eagles, coached by long-time Raider assistant Mike Nestor '99, will face off against Salem International at 3 p.m. Friday and Chestnut Hill at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Shippensburg enters the 2012-13 season with large holes to fill after losing five veteran seniors from last season's squad. With a trio of experienced returnees and a talented freshman class that runs nine-deep, the Raiders will look to make up for the 67 percent of the offense lost from last season.

SU returns five letterwinners from last year's team, including two starters: junior forward and 2012-13 captain Dylan Edgar and sophomore point guard Reggie Charles. Another integral returning player is sophomore guard Sam Pygatt, who appeared in all 27 games last season averaging 16.4 minutes per contest and is projected to earn a starting role this season.

Twelfth-year head coach Dave Springer took his 14-player team to Canada during the fall semester to get extra reps together during preseason. The five-day trip allowed the team to get 10 additional practices under its belt in addition to three competitive exhibition games.

After finishing in a tie for fifth in the division at the end of last season, the Raiders were picked to finish seventh in the PSAC Eastern Division Preseason Coaches Poll – behind every divisional opponent except Cheyney.

GUARD

A pair of second-year players who earned valuable experience as freshmen last season will lead the backcourt this season. A trio of freshmen will also provide depth at the guard position.

Charles returns after an impressive rookie season leading the Raiders offense. He averaged 7.8 points and 4.3 assists per game, with the latter good for sixth-best in the PSAC. Charles started 24 contests, as his 25.6 minutes per game average are the most of any returning player this season.

Joining Charles as a returner in the backcourt is Pygatt, who will likely assume a starting role at the two-guard position this season. Pygatt brought energy and scoring to the hardwood last season as the first guard off the bench, averaging 6.0 points per appearance.

An Easton native, freshman Joe Lococo will likely see a starting role in his first season. A consistent shooter, Lococo also has the ball-handling capability of spending time at point guard as well.

A native of Philadelphia, freshman Jay Hardy has a high basketball IQ and will a fill a versatile role for the Raiders. Hardy is athletic and can shoot from long range.

A pair of local products will also provide depth at the guard position in their rookie seasons. Shippensburg graduate Derek Boone excelled for the Greyhounds while Chambersburg graduate #A.J. Maun# was a senior captain on last season's team that won the District 3 title.

FORWARD

The Raiders will rely on three returnees with limited game experience as well as three incoming freshmen to fill out the forward positions on the front line.

Sophomore Akil Anderson will look to increase his role after appearing in 10 games last season. Anderson will fulfill a “utility” role as he can play anywhere on the floor from positions 1-4.

Redshirt-freshman Tyhiem Perrin will make his debut on the court this season after redshirting the 2011-12 campaign. Perrin earned valuable reps practicing against Shippensburg's five seniors all last season.

Junior Philip Sasko, a Sweden native who has played sparingly his first two seasons at Shippensburg, will provide depth as an athletic back-up at the small forward and power forward positions.

An aggressive player that can attack the rim and rebound well, freshman Philadelphia native Tony Ellis will bring energy to the frontcourt. Freshman and Cumberland Valley graduate David Craig is a skilled defender and rebounder that brings a strong 6-6 frame to the court and will see increased action against bigger teams.

Andrew Thompson is a 6-5 freshman from Harrisburg that will also look to play a role in his first season on the collegiate level.

CENTER

Junior captain Dylan Edgar will be counted upon heavily this season as the team's main scorer and rebounder. Entering his third year as a starter, Edgar averaged 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season while his 25 blocks translated to 0.9 per game – the 13th-highest clip in the PSAC. Edgar led the squad in shooting percentage last season (61.7 percent on 108-of-175 shooting) and will look to evolve into a powerful force below the basket in 2012-13.

The second-tallest player on the team at 6-7, freshman Marcus Williams will provide valuable defensive depth behind Edgar. Williams averaged nine rebounds and five blocks per game as a senior at Perkiomen Valley.