RICHMOND, Ky. – After three full weeks of team practices and one exhibition game, the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team will finally take to the court for its season opener Monday night at Mississippi State. The game, which is part of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET.

This is the third time in the last four years that Eastern Kentucky has played its season opener on the road. The Colonels are 0-3 all-time against Mississippi State and last faced the Bulldogs back in December of 1998.

Senior Joshua Jones, the only fourth year player on the team, is expected to start at one guard position while Northern Illinois transfer Mike DiNunno will likely start at point guard. DiNunno tallied eight assists and eight rebounds in the exhibition win over Urbana on Nov. 2. The third guard position should be filled by senior Jaron Jones who led the team in field goal percentage in 2010-11 (54.7 percent).

Two freshmen are expected to round out the starting line-up at Mississippi State – Timmy Knipp and Eric Stutz. Knipp hit a pair of three-pointers in the exhibition game on Nov. 2 while Stutz posted a team-high 14 points.

The Colonels play their first eight games of the season away from home. Following the Mississippi State game, EKU travels to South Carolina to face Winthrop (Nov. 12) and Presbyterian College (Nov. 14). The Winthrop game is a return BracketBusters game from 2010.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for game notes!

Television
--None

Video Streaming
--Monday’s game can be seen on the web at www.mstateathletics.com. There is a cost involved. Click here for live video stream!

Live Audio
----Monday’s game can be heard locally on WCYO 100.7 FM. Click here for live radio broadcast! WCYO is now streaming on most mobile devices. Download the TuneIn Radio app, available for iPhone/iPod/iPad, Android, Blackberry, Palm and Windows Phone.

Live Stats
--Click here for live stats!

Storylines
--For the third consecutive year, Eastern Kentucky led the OVC in three-pointers made (247) in 2010-11. The Colonels made at least 10 three-pointers in a game nine times, including a season-best 12 trifectas in the win over Kentucky Christian on Dec. 8, 2010. EKU set an OVC record with 327 three-pointers made in the 2009-10 season.

--The Colonels are 1-32 all-time against SEC opponents with the lone win coming against Auburn (93-71) in the 1955-56 season. EKU is 0-4 against SEC opponents (Georgia twice, Tennessee, Kentucky) in seven years under head coach Jeff Neubauer.