Cunningham and Dawson on OVC Men's Basketball Preseason Players to Watch List

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State Men's Basketball newcomers Davion Cunningham and Chase Dawson have been selected on the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Players to Watch List.

The Eagles were selected for a fifth place showing in the league race this year in the official poll, and Cunningham took part in media day activities in Evansville, Ind., along with second-year head coach Jonathan Mattox. 

Cunningham is a 6-3, redshirt junior, guard from Charlotte, N.C. He transferred to the Eagle program following a year at USC Aiken (S.C.) and two seasons at UNC Asheville. Last season, he averaged 15.9 points and 5.6 rebounds for a USC Aiken team that finished with 24 wins and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II championship. He earned Third-Team All-Peach Belt Conference. Cunnimgham tallied 26 points and eight rebounds in an NCAA Tournament win over Catawba (N.C.). He helped Asheville to the NCAA Tournament in 2022-23 and to the Big South Conference title game as a second-year player. Cunningham was a standout at North Mecklenburg High School in North Carolina where he led his team to a state championship.

Dawson, a 6-0 sophomore guard from Durham, N.C., was the Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year in 2024-25 at Mount Olive (N.C.) . He scored the third-most points in a single season in Mount Olive (N.C.) (Division II) history after racking up 642 points in 30 games played. Dawson led the Conference Carolinas in points and field goals made (230) while coming in second with his 83 percent free throw accuracy . He averaged 21.4 points per game and reached 20+ markers 18 times, including a pair of contests with more than 30 points. Dawson played high school ball at Flight 22 Prep Academy in Wilmington, N.C.

Morehead State's regular season tips off at home Nov. 3 versus Midway (Ky.).