The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team announced a 2011-12 schedule Friday that features 14 home games and a pair of road games against Southeastern Conference opponents.

Coach Jeff Neubauer's Colonels tip off their regular season Nov. 7 at Mississippi State in the 2K Sports Classic.

EKU's home opener is Dec. 3 against Brescia.

"Our team will be tested early by playing our first eight games away from home," Neubauer said.

The Colonels' non-conference schedule also includes a trip to Arkansas on Dec. 20.

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville joins the Ohio Valley Conference schedule this season, but the league slate has been trimmed from 18 to 16 games.

EKU will play Jacksonville State, Murray State, Southeast Missouri and UT Martin once, and the remaining six OVC teams twice.

The Colonels host rival and defending OVC Tournament champion Morehead State on Feb. 11.

The eight-team OVC Tournament will be played in Nashville at the Municipal Auditorium from Feb. 29 to March 3.

Fans will have two chances to see the Colonels for free before the regular season begins. EKU will host Halloween Hoopfest on Oct. 27 and an exhibition game against Urbana on Nov. 2.

Eastern Kentucky schedule

Home games in capital lettersAll times p.m. and Eastern

Date Opponent Time

Nov. 2 URBANA-x 7

Nov. 7 At Mississippi State-y 8

Nov. 12 At Winthrop 4

Nov. 14 At Presbyterian 7

Nov. 18 At Liberty-y 7

Nov. 19 William & Mary-y (at Lynchburg, Va.) 5

Nov. 20 Lehigh-y (at Lynchburg, Va.) 1

Nov. 27 At Norfolk State 7

Nov. 29 At Delaware State 7

Dec. 3Brescia7

Dec. 6North Carolina Central8

Dec. 10Georgia Southern7

Dec. 17 At Jacksonville State TBA

Dec. 20 At Arkansas TBA

Dec. 29Austin Peay7

Dec. 31Tennessee State2

Jan. 4 At Murray State TBA

Jan. 7Southeast Missouri7

Jan. 12 At Austin Peay 8

Jan. 14 At Morehead State TBA

Jan. 19 TENNESSEE-MARTIN 7

Jan. 22Longwood2

Jan. 26Tennessee Tech7

Jan. 28 At Tennessee State TBA

Feb. 2 At Eastern Illinois 8

Feb. 4 At SIU-Edwardsville 8

Feb. 7Mid-Continent7

Feb. 11Morehead State7

Feb. 15 At Tennessee Tech 8

Feb. 18 TBA2 TBA

Feb. 23 SIU-EDWARDSVILLE 7:30

Feb. 25Eastern Illinois7

Feb. 29-March 3 OVC Tournament at Nashville

x-Exhibition game; y-2K Sports Classic; z-ESPN BracketBuster game.