HAMMOND – Coming off its best season since claiming the 2005 Southland Conference title and its first-ever berth in the NCAA Division I Championships, the Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team will officially open its season on Friday when it plays host to Millsaps College in the University Center.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net. In honor of Veteran's Day, veterans will receive a discounted ticket to the game by presenting a military ID. A camper reunion will also be held with campers from the Jim Yarbrough Basketball Camps recognized at halftime.

Southeastern, which finished 19-12 last season – its best mark since going 24-9 in 2004-05, returns eight letterwinners and three starters for sixth-year coach Jim Yarbrough. The Lions finished 14-1 at home last season, equaling their best mark since 2003-04, and have won 20 straight non-conference games at home since the 2006-07 campaign.

Senior Trent Hutchin, a former Woodlawn High product, is Southeastern's top returning scorer where he averaged 10.7 points per game and was the top 3-point shooter in the Southland Conference connecting on 44 percent of his attempts. Joining Hutchin will be seniors Gary Dixon (8.4 ppg.), Rodney Jones (7.6), Jason Marks (4.5) and David Ndoumba (2.8).

Juniors Brandon Fortenberry, who was limited to 24 games with nine starts last season due to injury, returns to the lineup after averaging 7.8 points and 3.3 assists. Junior swingman Deshawn Patterson (5.6 ppg.) posted career-highs in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals for Southeastern in 2009-10 with sophomores Roosevelt Johnson (2.0 ppg.) and Jonathan Curtis looking to see an increase in playing time.

Newcomer Josh Lockett looks to replace departed starter Patrick Sullivan in the post along with JUCO signee Bryant Purvis. Prep newcomers Mike Harrel, Jeremy Campbell, Antonnio Benton and Onochie Ochie will look to make an impact in their first season with the Lions, who were picked to finish first in the Southland Conference East Division by the league's sports information directors and second by the league's head coaches.

Millsaps, an NCAA Division III school with eight players from the state of Louisiana on its roster, finished 12-13 last season and looks to replace its top three scorers. Returning letterwinners L.V. Sumler and Ben Cooper averaged 4.4 points each last season with former St. Michael's product Brian Merkel averaging 4.1.

Southeastern has won all 12 meetings between the schools in a series that dates back to the 1961-62 season. The Lions, who are 3-2 in season openers under Yarbrough, claimed an 81-49 victory last season in the University Center.