LAKELAND, FL - Fresh off an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance, the No. 19 ranked Lenoir-Rhyne men's basketball team is set to to open their season this weekend at the prestigious Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. 

The Bears open the season on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. vs. No. 4 Daemen, then close out the weekend on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. vs. No. 13 Michigan Tech. 

"We are excited about the opportunity to begin our season playing against and amongst the best teams in the country in an event that will be watched by most everyone in Division II basketball," said head coach Brent Owen.

Saturday's game vs. Daemen will be battle. The Wildcats were arguably the best team in Division II basketball for most of last season, entering the NCAA tournament undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. Their run came to an end in the East Regional semi-finals, falling to No. 5 seeded St. Thomas Aquinas to end the historic season. Daemen returns 13 plays, including three starters and their top four scorers, from last season's 28-1 squad. Big men Benjamin Bill and Justin Hemphill joined Lenoir-Rhyne center Conrad Lucznyski on Wayne Cavadi's "9 returning big men to watch in DII men's basketball this season." 

Michigan Tech is no slouch either, winning the GLIAC regular season championship last season before falling to Elite Eight participant Lake Superior State in the NCAA second round. This season the Huskies were picked to finish first in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, just ahead of fellow NCAA tournament participant Northern Michigan. The Bears will have to be prepared for Michigan Tech's Marcus Tomashek, who averaged 23.2 points en route to being named an All-American, Midwest Region Player of the Year, and GLIAC Player of the Year. Also returning are all-conference second teamer Dawson Nordgaard and two-time GLIAC All-Defensive team honoree Josh Terrian. An experienced team, Michigan Tech returns 14 players to their roster this season.

All three coaches, Daemen's Mike MacDonald, Michigan Tech's Josh Buettner, and Lenoir-Rhyne's Brent Owen, were all named their respective conference's Coach of the Year winners, with MacDonald being named the Clarence Gaines National Coach of the Year winner. 

"Both of these opponents bring back plenty of experience and have their eyes on winning a national championship, and I want our eyes on that same goal," said coach Owen. "This weekend will be a great test of where we stand in relation to that ambition."

This weekend's festivities will all take place at the George W. Jenkins Field House on the campus of Florida Southern University. A press conference involving all the head coaches will take place on Friday at 2:30 p.m., with all games taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

To view all the information and links for this weekend's event, click HERE.