HBU Huskies (0-0) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (0-0)
Friday, Nov. 11 – 6:30 p.m.
United Supermarkets Arena – Lubbock, Texas
 
Audio (Lonnie King)
TV: FOX College Sports
Live Stats
Game Notes
 
LUBBOCK, Texas - HBU men's basketball opens up the 2016-17 season with a matchup on the road against Big 12 foe Texas Tech Friday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be shown on FOX College Sports and the Legacy Sports Network broadcast will be available on HBUHuskies.com.

The Huskies (0-0) return four seniors, who have been together since they were freshmen, forwards Colter Lasher and Alex Fountain, guard/forward Reveal Chukwujekwu and center Cody Stetler. They are joined by graduate transfer Atif Russell, who previously played at Pepperdine. Lasher is the team's leading scorer, posting 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, while Chukwujekwu averaged 8.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Junior center Josh Ibarra averaged 10.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 63.1 percent from the field and blocking 30 shots, before missing the final 11 games with an injury. Sophomore guard Asa Cantwell shot 39.4 percent from 3-point range in his rookie season, going 50-for-127.

Last season was HBU's most successful campaign since returning to Division I in 2007-08, as the Huskies went 17-17 overall and earned the four seed at the Southland Conference Tournament with a 10-8 league mark. HBU won its first Southland Conference Tournament game, then received its first NCAA-era postseason berth since 1984 when it competed in the College Basketball Invitational. The Huskies were led by first-team all-conference selection Anthony Odunsi, who averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game and was recently taken in the NBA Developmental League Draft.

HBU head coach Ron Cottrell enters his 26th season at the helm of the Huskies' program with a 452-350 record and has the eighth-longest tenure in Division I.

Texas Tech is coming off a 19-13 season, including a 9-9 Big 12 record, and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Red Raiders had a balanced scoring attack with Toddrick Gotcher leading the way with 10.9 points per game, followed closely by Devaugntah Williams with 1.0.8, Aaron Ross at 10.3 and Zach Smith at 10.0. Smith led the team with 7.3 rebounds per game and 47 blocked shots. Both Gotcher and Williams were seniors last year.

Head coach Chris Beard is in his first season at Texas Tech, after a successful run at Little Rock.

The Red Raiders lead the all-time series against the Huskies, 5-0. In the last meeting, Texas Tech claimed a 76-61 victory over HBU in the season opener on Nov. 8, 2013.

The Huskies complete their road trip against New Mexico Monday at 8 p.m. CST in Albuquerque and broadcast on Root Sports and Legacy Sports Network. HBU will host its home opener Friday, Nov. 18 against Dallas Christian at Sharp Gym.