The BU men’s basketball team celebrating a bucket in the November 6 game against Northeastern. The Terriers were selected fifth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll. Photo by Erica Denhoff

Case Gym

Men’s Basketball Takes on Bryant in Home Opener Thursday

Head Coach Joe Jones: young, untested team will need patience and fortitude to grow

Joe Jones has no illusions about the outlook for his BU men’s basketball team. Following the graduation last May of several key players, this year’s team is largely young and inexperienced. The team’s head coach, Jones knows there will be a learning curve. 

But with a process-oriented mindset, he believes the Terriers have the tools to remain competitive in the Patriot League. “We need to continue to grow and learn and improve, and not focus on the results,” he says. “Because if we can focus on the process and trying to get better, I think this team by February could be a really, really good team.”

The Terriers will play their home opener Thursday, November 16, against Bryant University at Case Gym. Tip-off is slated for 7 pm. BU is 0-3 on this year’s campaign, losing 67-58 to Northeastern in the season opener November 6, 69-45 to Rutgers November 10, and 64-53 to Howard on November 14.

Despite those frustrating results, the team’s newest players have already demonstrated their prowess on the court. The Terriers’ three leading scorers are all newcomers: Kyrone Alexander (CAS’27), Matai Baptiste (CAS’27), and Ethan Okwuosa (CAS’25).

Alexander, a 6-foot-4 guard, tallied a team-high 15 points and three 3-pointers in the loss to Northeastern. Baptiste led the way against Rutgers, scoring eight points against a stingy defense that ranks as one of the best in the Big 10 Conference. Okwuosa, a transfer from Division II Southern New Hampshire University, scored nine points against the Huskies and six against the Scarlet Knights on a combined 58 percent field goal percentage. 

Veteran center Malcolm Chimezie (CAS’25) says the incoming players have fit in seamlessly. “Coach did a good job recruiting great character guys, so it’s always easy when we’re trying to get them acclimated and assimilated into the culture, because there’s no pushback,” Chimezie notes. “All the newcomers have great personalities, and it’s just been easy for them to mesh.” 

Jones has been encouraged by what he’s seen from his newest recruits, but emphasizes that results will come with time, and more important, work. 

“A lot will be determined with the work they put in, and the commitment that they’re going to need to show over time. Any of the guys that have been great here, they’ve taken steps. They weren’t great right away,” the coach says of his new additions, referencing recent standouts Javante McCoy (Questrom’21, SHA’22) and Sukhmail Mathon (CAS’21, Wheelock’22). 

McCoy is now with the Austin Spurs, the G-League affiliate of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. Mathon plays for ERA Nymburk, a top-tier team that’s part of the Czech National Basketball League. McCoy was named to the All-Patriot League First Team in 2022. That same season, Mathon was Patriot League Player of the Year. 

“It takes time, and you’re going to have to have that patience,” Jones says. “You’re going to have to have fortitude. You’re going to have to have commitment to doing things our way.” 

McCoy and Mathon graduated in 2022, and last season BU lost another crop of stalwarts, among them Walter Whyte (CAS’20, SPH’23) and Jonas Harper (CAS’21, MET’23). Those absences have left open several spots in BU’s rotation, and that’s where players like Alexander, Baptiste, and Okwuosa have begun to fill in. 

And even though players like McCoy, Mathon, and Whyte may be gone, their legacies have laid the groundwork for the next generation of players coming through the program. 

“We’ve had some guys here that have really worked hard and have done a great job of listening and developing, and so we’ve had a level of success. Anytime you have that, for kids, I think that resonates with them,” Jones says. “It proves that our process works.” 

Amidst the shuffle of incoming and outgoing players, one familiar face has stepped into a primary leadership role: Miles Brewster (CAS’24). A scrappy guard, Brewster figured into the rotation the last few seasons. This year, he’ll be a centerpiece—on the court and in the locker room.

“He’s been terrific. He’s been a selfless leader, he’s been our toughest competitor. And he’s the guy that will hold himself and others accountable,” Jones says. “We love Miles. We think he’s someone who really exhibits what we’re all about.”

Chimezie believes the team can thrive offensively, particularly when it comes to knocking down the long ball. “We have a lot of great shooters, so I think we’re going to shoot the ball well this year,” Chimezie predicts. “Once we show teams that we have to be guarded on the line, it’ll open up driving lanes.” 

The sample size is small, but Okwuosa (66.7 percent) and Baptiste (37.5 percent ) have already begun to display skill from behind the arc. 

Jones is pushing his players to embody the team’s three core values—toughness, selflessness, and accountability. “When there are good examples of it, we show it to them, we talk about it,” he says. “When they [demonstrate those values], you acknowledge it. When they’re not doing it, you acknowledge it. You’re kind of showing them how that type of toughness impacts winning.”

BU plays another 10 nonconference games before jumping into its Patriot League slate, which kicks off with a battle against Navy on January 3. 

Jones says there are several things he’s stressing to his players: “Let’s go execute on both sides of the ball, let’s work for each other, let’s be there for each other, and believe in ourselves. I think if we do that, we’re going to have success.” 

The Boston University men’s basketball team will host Bryant University in its home opener on Thursday, November 16, at Case Gym. Tickets are free for students with a sports pass, $7 for faculty and staff, $5 for students without a sports pass, and $12 for the general public. Fans can stream the action live on ESPN+.