LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The Bellarmine University men's basketball team will open their 2009-10 home basketball season with a 7 p.m. exhibition contest against Kentucky State University on Saturday, Nov. 7 in Knights Hall.

Bellarmine is coming off arguably its best men's basketball season in school history as they set a record for most wins (26) and advanced to the NCAA Div. II Sweet 16.  The Knights are beginning this season with a bright outlook as two national publications (The Sporting News and Basketball Times) have made Bellarmine the preseason national No. 1.  

The Knights return most of their team from a year ago, and will be led by Braydon Hobbs, a preseason All-America selection.  The New Albany sophomore will likely be joined in the starting lineup by Justin Benedetti, Andrew Patterson, Nick Holmes and Oladapo Fagbenle.  All five players started at least 17 games for Bellarmine a year ago.

Kentucky State is coming off a 9-20 season and will likely be led by guard Brandon Gatson, who averaged better than 10 points a game last year.

For ticket information, call 502-452-8380.