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ARCATA, Calif. – Humboldt State men's basketball opens to 2016-17 season at the Sodexo Tip Off Challenge in Seattle. The North Coast team faces host Seattle Pacific Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. and Simon Fraser Saturday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m.
 
"We are on the edge of our seats, and we are very excited about traveling to a venue that will be extremely challenging," said Head Coach Steve Kinder. "Seattle Pacific will be a true test, because it is a West Region powerhouse. We saw them at the NCAA West Region Tournament last year and remember them from our days in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference."
 
The Lumberjacks warmed up for the season with a pair of exhibition victories. HSU defeated Future College 121-56 and Bristol 97-62. One takeaway from the Green and Gold's exhibition games was the team's desire to take shots from outside the arc. The Jacks connected on a combined 37 shots from long range versus Future College and Bristol, and the home team hit 52.8 percent of its 3-pointers.
 
Seattle Pacific reached the NCAA Regional Tournament last season and won 22 games. The Falcons lead the all-time series with the Jacks 6-20, and the two teams have not faced off since the 2005-06 season.
 
The Falcons graduated five starters from last season, and guard Will Parker is their most experienced returner with just 14 career starts. He averaged 4.5 points and 1.8 rebounds a season ago.
 
Unlike Seattle Pacific, HSU returns several impact players from the 2015-16 campaign. Malik Morgan headlines the group after earning All-California Collegiate Athletic Association First Team honors last year. Morgan started 30 games and averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 assists per game. In total, HSU brings back eight players, including Calvin Young II who returns from an ACL injury that kept him sidelined last season.
 
Saturday's opponent, Simon Fraser, aims to rebound from a 2-24 season. The Clan went 1-19 against GNAC opponents and ended the year riding a five-game losing streak. HSU is 3-2 all-time against Simon Fraser, and the Jacks have not faced the Clan since 2011-12.