ROANE STATE FACES EARLY TESTS IN OPENING WEEKEND, EYES IMPROVEMENT AHEAD OF CONFERENCE PLAY

HICKORY, N.C. — Roane State men's basketball opened the 2025–26 season with a promising home victory before facing two tough opponents on the road that tested the team's depth, focus, and defensive execution.

The Raiders tipped off the season with an 80–72 win over Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, showing sparks of offensive balance and defensive cohesion. Head coach Alan Holt said he liked his team's energy in the opener but noticed a sharp contrast when they faced the same opponent a week later at the Catawba Valley Classic.

"In game one, we came out firing," Holt said. "But in the second meeting, we looked complacent. I think we thought we could just roll out of bed and beat Caldwell again, and they're far too good of a team for that."

Caldwell adjusted behind a standout performance from its point guard, who Holt said took full advantage of Roane State's defensive lapses. The Raiders fell 108–68 in the rematch, a loss that Holt said provided valuable lessons early in the season.

"Part of it was their point guard playing very well," Holt said. "But a bigger part was us not executing defensively. We didn't do the things we emphasized—getting them out of rhythm, making them uncomfortable. They made us pay for every mistake we made."

The Raiders regrouped the next day against Gaston College, showing improved ball movement and offensive chemistry despite falling 80–71 in the finale of the tournament. Holt credited his players' response and said the second-half effort was a step in the right direction.

"The last rotation that played a large majority of the second half really started to show what we want offensively," Holt said. "They played selflessly and made good decisions with the basketball. Now, we've just got to increase our competitiveness if we want to be at the top of our league."

That message comes as Roane State opens TCCAA conference play against Walters State, a team picked as the early favorite to win the league in the preseason poll. The matchup will test the Raiders' intensity and discipline against one of the region's fastest, most aggressive defenses.

"We've got to match Walters' intensity," Holt said. "They play really, really hard and play well together. We've got to master that level of competitiveness and selflessness, play the right way, and be ready for how fast they want to make the game."

Holt said his team has spent the week preparing for Walters State's up-tempo, pressing style, with an emphasis on ball security and composure.

"They like to trap, press, and speed the game up," Holt said. "If we can handle that, it'll help us drastically. If we don't, it could be a long night."

Despite the early ups and downs, Holt remains confident in his team's potential as the season unfolds.

"We've got things to clean up, but I believe in this group," he added. "The more we learn from weekends like this, the better we'll be when it counts."