RICHMOND, KY—The South Carolina State men's basketball team will compete in the EKU Hoops Classic beginning Friday, Nov. 20- Sunday, Nov. 22 at the McBrayer Arena in Richmond, KY.
 
The six-game, three-day event will feature host Eastern Kentucky, South Carolina State, Ball State and Longwood University.
 
"This weekend's game presents a great challenge and opportunity for our basketball program," said SC State head coach Murray Garvin. "Three games in 3 days will be a test for our program. I believe that this format will serve as great preparation for how things can end up in March during the MEAC Tournament."
 
"It will demonstrate how we as coaches, players, managers, athletic trainers, etc.., will have to prepare for quick turnarounds and bounce back for another game in less than 24 hours," said Garvin.  "All three teams are well coached and we plan to take it one possession at a time." 
 
Eastern Kentucky (1-1,0-0 OVC) will face Ball State in Friday's opening game , in a 6 p.m. tip-off, while  SC State will battle Longwood (2-0, 0-0 Big South) in a 8:30 p.m. showdown.
 
South Carolina State (1-1, 0-0 MEAC) is coming off a 113-69 impressive win over Voorhees College on Monday (Nov.16). The Bulldogs have four players in double-figures with JUCO transfer guard Eric Eaves leading the way with 17.0 ppg, while senior guard/forward Gabriel McCray chips in 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. Junior guard and preseason All MEAC Third-Team selection Greg Mortimer tosses in 13.0 ppg and sophomore sensation Ed Stephens adds 11.0.
 
BULLDOG BITES:
*EKU is 3-1 all-time versus South Carolina State. The two teams last met on January 3, 2015 in Richmond. The Colonels knocked off the Bulldogs, 63-52.

  *South Carolina State head coach Murray Garvin is a 1998 graduate of EKU and a native of Pikeville, Kentucky. 

2015 @EKUHoops Classic Schedule
Nov. 20   Ball State at EKU -6 p.m.    
               Longwood vs. SC  State -8:30 p.m.
Nov. 21   SC State at EKU -2 p.m.    
               Longwood vs Ball State-4:30 p.m.
Nov. 22    Longwood at EKU-2 p.m.  
               SC State vs. Ball State-4:30 p.m.  
 
Follow all games live: Click link http://www.sidearmstats.com/eku/mbball/

NEXT UP: Following this weekend's tournament, SC State will host Allen University on Wednesday (Nov.26) at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Tip-off is 6 p.m.