BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England men's basketball team has been rated third out of 14 in the The Commonwealth Coast Conference preseason poll, released Friday morning by TCCC Sports Information Coordinator Matt Pettinicchi.

Gordon College and Colby-Sawyer College each received five first-place votes by the league's coaches, with the Fighting Scots (172) just edging out the Chargers (169) in total points to be tabbed as the favorites.

After posting a school-best 24-5 mark in 2008-09 with a 12-1 record in the TCCC, the Nor'easters garnered two first-place votes and totaled 166 points to claim the third spot. The defending conference champions open their season November 15 with a non-conference game at Saint Joseph's College.

Wentworth Institute of Technology (144) and Roger Williams University (130) round out the top five.

To view the complete listing of the preseason poll, click here.

For the men's basketball season preview, click here.