Three D-I exhibitions on ENMU men's basketball schedule

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico released its men’s basketball schedule for the upcoming season, with nine home games and three exhibitions with Division I teams.

The 29-game regular season ends with a Feb. 27 exhibition at Grand Canyon University — a game the Greyhounds hope will be a final tuneup for March’s Lone Star Conference tournament in Frisco, Texas.

“We are very excited about this year’s schedule,” third-year ENMU coach Tres Segler said, “We really wanted to play tough opponents this season in order to prepare us for the grind of the Lone Star Conference. I think this pre-conference schedule will have our guys ready to do battle in the LSC.”

Eastern will also play exhibitions against Texas-El Paso on Nov. 19 and New Mexico State on Nov. 21.

The Greyhounds don’t play the University of New Mexico this year, but they will start the season at The Pit with neutral site games Nov. 9 against Fort Lewis and Nov. 10 against New Mexico Highlands. They’ll follow that up at the Angelo State Ed Messbarger Tip-Off Classic against St. Edward’s Nov. 16 and Jarvis Christian Nov. 17.

The home schedule and the Lone Star Conference season begins Nov. 29 with a 7:30 p.m. matchup against Midwestern State.

The top eight teams in LSC play will go to the league tournament March 7-9. The winner will receive the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division II tournament.

“As always the Lone Star Conference will be the best D-2 conference in America,” coach Segler said, “We are always honored to be a part of the historic league, and we are excited to continue building our name as the season goes on. We had some great moments last season against some of the LSC’s best programs, and we must continue to build toward the head of the pack. One thing is certain. The LSC is a strong as ever, and we must push ourselves everyday so that we can fight to earn a spot at the top by the end of the conference season.”