HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana University men's basketball team tips off its 2011-12 season on Wednesday when it hosts Millsaps College in an exhibition game at the University Center.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Live statistics will be available at www.LionSports.net. Tickets are available at the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or on-line at www.LionSports.net.

Looking to build on a 15-14 record and eighth consecutive appearance in the Southland Conference Basketball Tournament, Southeastern returns six letterwinners and two starters for seventh-year head coach Jim Yarbrough.

Southeastern, which officially opens its season on Sunday at Tulsa before hosting Spring Hill in its home opener on Nov. 15, was picked to finish fourth among a crowded field in the Southland Conference East Division. The Lions added six newcomers, including transfers Elgin Bailey (Mississippi State), Daron Populist (LSU) and Quin Cooper (Centenary). Southeastern also added junior college transfers Todd Nelson and Jan Petrovcic along with high school product Donovan Ross.

Brandon Fortenberry, who finished second on the team with 11.9 points per game and is a 2011-12 Preseason All-Southland Conference selection, is the top returning scorer for the Lions followed by DeShawn Patterson (6.3) and Roosevelt Johnson (5.5).

Sophomores Antonnio Benton (3.0), Jeremy Campbell (1.9) and Michael Harrel (1.6) also return for the Lions along with junior Jonathan Curtis (1.3).

Millsaps, a Division III school, officially opens its season on Nov. 15 at Pensacola Christian. Southeastern defeated the Majors, 91-45, in the Lions' season opener last year at the University Center.