Men’s Basketball opens season at UW-La Crosse on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

MEQUON, Wis. - Head coach Shawn Cassidy has been preparing his team for over four weeks getting ready for the 2011-12 campaign, which begins on Tuesday night at UW-La Crosse at 7 p.m. inside Mitchell Hall Gymnasium.

Fans unable to attend the game can follow live statistics or listen to UW-La Crosse's live radio.

The Falcons are looking repeat one of the most successful seasons in program history after the team compiled a 23-5 overall record and a perfect 16-0 Northern Athletics Conference record last year. CUW ranked in the top-20 nationally a season ago in turnover margin (5.8), scoring margin (10.9) and steals per game (10.4).

All-NAC performers Luke Doedens (senior, Cedarburg, Wis.) and Mitchell Schneider (senior, New Holstein, Wis.), along with All-NAC Sportsmanship honoree and starting point guard Matt Paluchniak (senior, Oostburg, Wis.) return to bolster a lineup that features nine upperclassmen - seven seniors.

UW-La Crosse enters in search of a new leading scorer after All-American Tony Mane graduated last season. He averaged 25.6 point per game and shot 48.5 perfect from the 3-point line. The Eagles lineup is young with just five upperclassmen on an 18-man roster. UW-L's top returning scorer is Al Chery who averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Last season the two teams squared off in the 2010-11 season opener for both teams in Mequon, Wis. (R. John Buuck Field House). CUW jumped out to a 9-1 lead and never looked back as it led by as many as 19 points en route to a 93-81 victory.

Schneider led the Falcons with 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting - three 3-pointers and 7-for-7 at the free throw line. Doedens also finished with 19 points and six rebounds, while Paluchniak assisted on five field goals. The Eagles were led by Mane's 29 points, while Chery scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds.

CUW continues its three-game road trip to open the season with a pair of games at the Gabe Miller Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 18-19. The Falcons will play host UW-Platteville and UW-Eau Claire.