RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team opens its 2010-11 season at the Nick Kladis Classic in Chicago this weekend. The Colonels play host Loyola Chicago on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. before playing Texas-Pan American on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and Indiana State on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

EKU is 4-2 all-time against Loyola Chicago (the schools last met on Dec. 23, 2000) and 2-3 against Indiana State (the schools last met on Nov. 24, 1998). The Colonels have never played UTPA.

EKU is coming off a season in which it reached the 20-win plateau for the seventh time in program history and the second time under head coach Jeff Neubauer. The Colonels established a new OVC single-season record for three-pointers made (327) and connected on at least 10 three-pointers in 19 games during the 2009-10 season.

The Colonels won their only exhibition game of the preseason, defeating Alice Lloyd, 75-60, at McBrayer Arena on Nov. 5. Junior Joshua Jones led EKU in that game with 16 points while senior Spencer Perrin chipped in with 14 points and freshman Jeff Johnson was one rebound shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.

Following the Nick Kladis Classic, the Colonels play their home opener against SIU Edwardsville on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for game notes!

Television
--None locally. Friday's game will be televised in the Chicago area on Lakeshore Public Television.

Video Streaming
--Click here for a free video stream of Friday's game only!

Live Audio
--WCYO 100.7 FM (Friday and Sunday)
--WLFX 106.7 FM (Saturday)

Live Stats
--Live stats vs. Loyola Chicago
--Live stats vs. UTPA
--Live stats vs. Indiana State

Directions
--Click here for directions to the Gentile Center.

Storylines
-- Ten of the 15 players on the EKU roster are either new to the program or did not see any action last year.

-- EKU was picked to finish fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference this season.

--The Colonels went 12-1 in 2009-10 when shooting at least 50 percent from the floor and 16-2 when shooting a better percentage than the opposition.