Battler Basketball Adds Two Transfers from Slippery Rock

Brandon Simmons

Battler Beat has learned that the Alderson Broaddus men's basketball team has landed two quality transfers from Slippery Rock University. The two transfers are Brandon Simmons and Bruce Spruell. These two players helped lead Slippery Rock to a 21-9 record last season. Spruell and Simmons were SRU's second and third-leading scorers respectively. The two student-athletes arrived on campus at the start of class.

Brandon Simmons is a 6'9" post player from Harlem, NY. He averaged 10.2 points per game and 8
rebounds per game for SRU. Simmons compiled double-double outputs in 7 games last season. He also tallied 84 block shots during the course of the season. He played two seasons for Marshalltown JC and had originally committed to New Mexico State. Simmons has one season of eligibility left.

Bruce Spruell is a 6'4" guard out of Hanover, MD. He averaged 11.3 points per game and 4 assists per

contest. Spruell finished the season with 128 total assists compared to only 67 turnovers. He had 17 games where he scored in double-figures while still leading the team in assists. One of his most impressive games was a 17 point / 7 assist performance against Elite 8 qualifier Shippensburg. Spruell will redshirt this upcoming season.

Keep checking with Battler Beat with more information on recruits that have arrived on the campus of Alderson Broaddus.

Bruce Spruell

Battlers to host the Defending NCAA D2 National Champion

Earlier this year Battler Beat confirmed that the Alderson Broaddus men's basketball team would open the season by hosting the G-MAC / GLIAC crossover event. In that story, we stated that ABU's first opponent would be Grand Valley State. We have now found that the second opponent of the crossover event is the defending NCAA Division II national champion Ferris State Bulldogs out of Big Rapids, MI. Ferris State finished last season with a record of 38-1 on their road to the national title.

Alderson Broaddus will have their hands full when Ferris State arrives in Philippi. The Bulldogs
return several key players from last season national championship squad. Included in the list of returnees is Ferris State's leading scorer and rebounder Zach Hankins. The 6'10" center averaged 15 points per game while grabbing 10 rebounds per contest. He is considered to be a contender for the national player of the year award this upcoming season. The Bulldogs also return 6'5" forward Markese Mayfield who averaged 9 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game. Ferris State also returns 6'1" guard DeShaun Tower who averaged 8 points per game.

The contest with Ferris State is slated for Sunday, November 11th at 1 PM. The game will take place at Rex Pyles Arena on the campus of Alderson Broaddus University.

Zach Hankins