HUNTINGTON, W.V.—The quest for another Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship for the Alabama State men's basketball team begins Friday, Nov. 11 at Marshall University.  Tip off has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
The Hornets will be led by seventh-year head coach Lewis Jackson who has assembled a talented set of eight newcomers to team with his solid core of six returnees from the conference championship squad of last season and he is ready to see this team hit the floor.
 
“It is always good to get the season kicked off,” head coach Lewis Jackson said.  “We are excited and we have a group of guys that always seem eager to get on the floor.  We are here in Huntington, West Virginia and we have Marshall tomorrow and we are just excited about this opportunity.”
 
ASU was able to defeat Fort Valley State 65-57 in an exhibition game to open the season.  Kenderek Washington led the way with 21 points and Jeff Middlebrooks added 13 and freshman Luther Page had 10.
 
Marshall University is coming of a season which saw them go 22-12 to reach post season play appearing in the CIT Tournament.  The Thundering Herd was fifth in Conference USA last season with a 9-7 record.
 
Second-year head coach Tom Herrion has the luxury of returning their top two scorers from last season as senior Damier Pitts led MU at 16.2 points per game and sophomore DeAndre Kane averaged 15.1 points last season.  Like ASU, Marshall was able to pull out a victory in their exhibition game, defeating Northern Kentucky University 65-55.
 
“Marshall had a good year last year and have very talented players and are very athletic,” Jackson said.  “Their guards and wings are very good off the dribble and they have a couple of pretty good size guys around the basket, 6-9 and 6-10, so we have our work cut out for us on the defensive end, but it is a challenge we always accept and I feel our guys are going to come out play hard and leave it on the floor.”
 
With the Hornets opening up the season on the road against two opponents (Marshall and Cincinnati) that were involved in post-season tournament action, the coaching staff is eager to see how the Hornets will match up against some tough early-season competition.
 
“We want to see some continued improvement and go out and play as a team on both ends of the court,” Jackson stated.  “We have to do a good job of keeping the opposition's guards in front of us and I am looking to see guys continue to move as we continue to play here especially on the defensive side of the ball.”