JAMESTOWN, ND. (NewsDakota.com) – 95-38 — That’s the overall record for the University of Jamestown men’s basketball team over the last four seasons. That includes three trips to the Round of 16 and one to the Elite Eight for the Jimmies in the past four years.

Seniors Marc Kjos and Mason Walters have been along for the ride while taking Jimmie basketball to new heights in the new era of one division in the NAIA. Walters talked about the success of the program since he and Kjos stepped on campus.

That program success has come at the expense of some other top teams in the NAIA, including last season when the Jimmies made the road trip to Carroll and took down the Saints to get back to Kansas City. Even though that opening round win came on the road, the men’s team could feel the energy from the road Jimmie fans in the building.

For Kjos and Walters, expectations are once again high entering the 2022-23 season. UJ is ranked #9 in the country and was picked to finish first in the conference during the preseason coaches poll. It is all about handling those expectations coming into this season.

And while the last four years have been exciting, the Jimmies are locked back in and are trying to make another deep run this year. UJ opens up the season against Dickinson State at 8 PM on Thursday night at Newman Arena. Walters will have an opportunity in the opening game to further etch his name in Jamestown history as he sits just 18 points away from tying Brequan Tucker for first all-time in career scoring.

Full coverage of the regular season opener can be heard on Jamestown 1071/1400, online at newsdakota.com, and streaming at jimmiepride.com. UJ’s first conference home game of the year is November 16th against Dakota Wesleyan and the Jimmies will head to Tennessee to compete in NAIA’s “The Show” tournament over Thanksgiving.

FULL INTERVIEW