AUGUSTA, Ga. - Fourteen home dates and a Nov. 5 exhibition matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs highlight the 2010-11 Augusta State men’s basketball schedule, Jaguar head coach Dip Metress officially announced Thursday.

The Jaguars, who made third straight Elite Eight appearance in 2009-10, return five lettermen from last season’s squad that posted a 29-4 record while capturing the Peach Belt Conference’s regular-season championship as well as the NCAA Southeast Regional title.

“I think our schedule is once again quite formidable,” said Metress, the 2009-10 Peach Belt Conference Coach-Of-The-Year. “Even though so many new faces will have to play such prominent roles, the key to our team -- as it has been in the past -- will be how well our four seniors lead us this year. The schedule is as daunting as the task that we have in front of us.”

ASU’s 10 non-conference opponents combined for a 191-109 (.637) record last season. In addition, six of the Jags’ non-league foes advanced to postseason play, while a total of nine teams on the 2010-11 schedule earned trips to their respective national tournaments (NCAA, NAIA and NCCAA). Nine of ASU’s 22 opponents eclipsed the 20-win mark in 2009-10.

The Jaguars make their debut on Friday, Nov. 5 with an exhibition contest in Athens, Ga., against the University of Georgia. In the last meeting between the two schools, ASU nearly upset the Bulldogs, falling 81-74 in a regular-season matchup on Dec. 3, 2007 in Stegeman Coliseum.

A week later, the Jags open the regular season on the road, traveling to Greeneville, Tenn., for the second annual South Atlantic Conference/Peach Belt Conference Classic hosted by Tusculum. ASU will take on Anderson on Friday, Nov. 12 at 5:00 p.m., in Pioneer Arena, then face Tusculum on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 4:00 p.m.

The Jags make their home debut against the Benedict Tigers on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m., and welcome the Life Running Eagles to Christenberry Fieldhouse for a Thanksgiving Eve-contest on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 6:00 p.m.

ASU heads across town for its annual showdown with Paine College on Thursday, Dec. 2. Two nights later, the Jags lift the lid on their Peach Belt Conference schedule in Savannah, Ga., vs. Armstrong Atlantic State.

The pre-Christmas slate includes a Dec. 11 home date with Emmanuel and road games at Lenoir-Rhyne and Clayton State on Dec. 15 and Dec. 18, respectively. The Jags return from their holiday break with a Dec. 30 visit to Mount Olive, N.C., to take on the Trojans, a Southeast Regional participant last season.

ASU tips off 2011 with a visit from North Georgia on Monday, Jan. 3 and hosts Armstrong Atlantic in the first of two three-game homestands on Wednesday, Jan. 12.

The Jags step out of league play for the last time with non-conference visits from King College (Jan. 15) and Valdosta State (Jan. 17). The Blazers, who advanced to the Elite Eight last March, are coming off a 28-5 season in 2009-10 that included an 81-75 win over the previously-undefeated Jags, knocking ASU out of the top spot in the national rankings.

The Jags host USC Aiken on Monday, Jan. 24 and travel to Aiken nine days later to take on the Pacers on Wednesday, Feb. 2 in the Convocation Center.

ASU hosts Francis Marion for Homecoming and Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 19.

The Peach Belt Conference Tournament begins March 1 at home sites before relocating to the Convocation Center in Aiken for the semifinals and championship on March 5-6.  (View Full Schedule)