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INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI basketball team will open the 2011-12 campaign on Friday (Nov. 11) night when the Jaguars host Anderson University for a 7:00 p.m. tip inside the Jungle on Military Appreciation Night. The game marks the regular season head coaching debut of Todd Howard and the season debut of the IUPUI LIVE! video subscription service as Scott McCauley (play-by-play) will describe the action from courtside. Friday's game will not be heard on WNDE, WNDE.com or iHeartRadio because of scheduling conflicts. 

As part of Military Appreciation Night, IUPUI is offering a free ticket to current and former military personnel with a valid ID. In addition, in conjunction with the Wounded Warrior Project, IUPUI will be honoring local wounded warrior Staff Sergeant Nick Bennett prior to the game. Bennett served with the 2nd Battalion 24th Marines in Mahmudiyah, Iraq and was injured on Veterans Day in 2004. He was later awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon.

On the court, the Jaguars are looking to build off the preseason success after posting exhibition wins over IU East and Marian University. In Monday's 85-50 win over Marian, Summit League Preseason Player of the Year Alex Young led four Jags in double-digits with an efficient 19 points in 22 minutes. Sophomore guard Greg Rice chipped in 13 points in Stephen Thomas' stead, while big men Christian Siakam and Mitchell Patton tallied 10 apiece.

Patton also grabbed a team-high seven boards in just 18 minutes off the bench as IUPUI controlled the glass by a 42-35 margin. All 11 IUPUI players grabbed at least one rebound and everyone but Patton handed out at least one assist.

Aaron Evans led Marian with 17 points.

IUPUI hit nearly 54 percent from the floor and led by as many as 38 points in the second half.
 
IUPUI is 11-7 all-time against Anderson, although the two schools haven't played in the regular season since Nov. 25, 1997 when the then-Metros claimed an 87-71 win in The Jungle. The two schools have played exhibition games the past two years with the Jaguars winning by an average margin of 29.5 points per. Young averaged 21 points and seven rebounds per game in the two wins and Thomas added 14 points, six assists and three steals in last year's 84-60 win in The Jungle. Brock Morrison led the Ravens with 22 points.

Anderson, which went 18-9 last season under Tom Slyder, is led by the 6-foot-4 Morrison, who was pegged 1st Team All-HCAC last year after averaging 13 points and 7.5 boards per game. Another familiar face on the roster is Andrew Bowman, who practiced with the Jaguars for a season before ultimately transferring to Anderson.

Like always, IUPUI students are admitted for free with a valid JagTag. Reserved seats to Friday's game are $10 while children 12-and-under are admitted for $7. Kids 4-and-under are admitted for free. Those attending Friday's game will receive a 2011-12 team picture poster while supplies last.