It took some time for the men’s basketball team to get back into their groove after a slow start to their season.

The team won seven of their last 10 games, giving them a record of 8-5 with a 2-3 standing in the SSAC.

Stacy Hollowell, head coach, attributed the slow start to a learning curve and the implementation of new offensive and defensive principles.

“Early in the season, we put in a lot of offenses and defenses. We were pretty good at some but not particularly great at any of it. We scaled things back and have found a little more success,” Hollowell said.

Benjamin Fields, accounting freshman, said he has adjusted to the learning curve that comes along with playing college basketball, as well as getting used to his new teammates.

“My biggest adjustment was forgetting everything I had been taught before and learning a new system and becoming more comfortable with my new teammates,” Fields said.

Now that the team has grown comfortable with one another, Fields said that they have a lot to prove entering conference play.

“We have to beat some of these good teams to show we are a team to be reckoned with,” Fields said.

The Pack had a chance to pick up a key win against Martin Methodist, the number seven ranked team in the NAIA national rankings and one of the best teams in the Southern States Athletic Conference, but they fell short ending their five game winning streak.

Coach Hollowell said he has seen improvement in his team but also wants to see more improvement.

“I want us to improve on valuing each possession on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. We’ve lost two games in overtime, one by two points and the other by three. One more made basket or one more defensive stop can lead to wins,” Hollowell said.

The basketball team’s next game is Saturday, Jan. 17 in The Den against Blue Mountain College.