PORTALES, N.M. ­– Coming off two straight Lone Star Conference Tournament appearances, Eastern New Mexico men’s basketball Head Coach Tres Segler officially announced the 2019-20 game schedule

ENMU’s 30-game schedule will feature three exhibition contests against tough Division I opponents and 27 regular season games, with 12 taking place inside Greyhound Arena.

“This upcoming season will provide our program and our players with great chances to step up and become leaders,” said Segler. “We will face three Division I programs that are very powerful, and our non-conference opponents will be regional level contenders. We have always wanted to use our pre-conference schedule to build our resolve and test our character. Road Division I games and road Division II games will provide our program with a high level of toughness as we enter the LSC grind.”

The recently expanded Lone Star Conference has accepted eight new institutions for the 2019-20 season which include UT Tyler, UAFS, DBU, Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma Christian, St. Edward’s, St. Mary’s and Texas A&M International. With 18 total members the LSC becomes the largest conference in NCAA Division II.

“I have always stated that the Lone Star Conference is the best DII conference in the nation now, with the addition of the incredibly talented and skilled Heartland teams I can stand even firmer on my claim that the LSC is the toughest league in the country,” explains Segler. “From one night to the next LSC teams will present completely different playing styles, and there will be some absolute battles as the conference season wears on this year. As always, we aim to be one of the toughest, most physical, and hardest working in that group.”

The Hounds will play 22 LSC matchups, facing each conference foe at least once and West Texas A&M, Angelo State, UT Permian Basin, Lubbock Christian and Western New Mexico twice each.

Eastern returns its leading scorer and Second Team All-LSC selection Devin Pullum who averaged 12.6 points per game in 26 games played despite only starting in just three. The junior guard played especially well against conference competition averaging 14.3 points per contest, the eighth-highest average in the LSC. The Little Elm, Texas native also finished the season ninth in the league with 2.9 assists per game.

ENMU will begin its season with a tough exhibition slate with road contests against the University of Tennessee and the University of New Mexico.

“We are especially blessed to be heading to Knoxville to face the Volunteers,” said Segler. “Coach Barnes was a huge mentor to me, and I started my career working for him at The University of Texas. Being able to bring my team and program to his arena will be a very emotional moment for me. We love to play Division I games because our student-athletes get to go against NBA caliber talent. The highlights, clips, and good moments in these DI games will go directly onto our player’s highlight films to help them become professional players in Europe after they graduate.”

The Hounds open regular season play in Durango, Colo. as they compete in the LSC/RMAC Conference Challenge. Eastern’s season opener will be a neutral site game against New Mexico Highlands on Nov. 9 before facing tournament host Fort Lewis the following day.

ENMU will finish its exhibition schedule in El Paso, Texas as they face the UTEP Miners on Nov. 15.

“Coach Rodney Terry was also on Coach Barnes’ staff at the University of Texas when I was there, and he was kind enough to bring us back out to El Paso for another meeting this year,” said Segler “Coach Terry was instrumental in helping me get the head job here at ENMU, and he is building a monster of a program out in El Paso right now. Look for his Miners to be an incredibly tough and physical team that will play fast and hard at all times.”

The Green and Silver’s conference opener is scheduled for Nov. 23 on the road in Canyon, Texas as they face rival West Texas A&M inside First United Bank Center.

Greyhound fans can get their first look at the team Saturday, Dec. 7 as the squad wraps-up their non-conference schedule against Wayland Baptist at 7 p.m.

The Hounds host their first conference homestand of the 2019-20 season on Dec. 19 as conference new comer UAFS rolls into Portales before finishing the weekend against the Eagles of Oklahoma Christian on Dec. 21.

The Lone Star Conference Tournament will be held at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, from Mar. 5-7.