CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Senior forward Jeremy Atkinson was voted to the preseason Big South All-Conference second team by the league's head coaches and media panel. The announcement came today at the Renaissance Suites Hotel as part of the 2012-13 Basketball Tip-Off Media Luncheon.

Atkison is UNC Asheville's lone starter returning from last season's Big South Conference-championship team. The Elm City, N.C. native averaged 11.7 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game last year. He earned a spot on the Big South All Tournament team by averaging 17 points and seven rebounds in three tournament games. Atkinson shot .546 from the field and was fourth on the team in assists with 76.

"I'm really happy for Jeremy to be honored in the preseason," stated Bulldog Associate Head Coach Nick McDevitt. "He's very deserving of this honor, and he'll be one of our leaders this year."

VMI senior Stan Okoye was voted as the 2012-13 Big South Preseason Player of the Year. The 6-6 forward averaged 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last year. He helped lead the Keydets to the Big South Conference championship before they fell to the Bulldogs at Kimmel Arena, 80-64.

The Bulldogs will play an exhibition game on Nov. 5 when they host Brevard College at Kimmel starting at 7 p.m. Asheville's first regular-season game is also at Kimmel Arena when the Bulldogs take on Western Carolina on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.