AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A December matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs highlights the 2007-08 Augusta State men’s basketball schedule, Jaguar head coach Dip Metress officially announced Tuesday.

The Jaguars, who finished the 2006-07 season as the 18th-ranked team in the nation, return all five starters from a squad that posted a 24-7 record, captured the Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship and hosted the NCAA South Atlantic Regional as the top seed.

“We might have put together the toughest schedule in the history of Division II basketball, or maybe it just looks and feels that way,” said Metress, entering his fourth season at the helm of the Jaguar program. “It was very difficult to schedule games this year coming off last year’s success, but that was a good problem to have and we look forward to the challenges that our schedule presents us.”

ASU’s seven non-conference opponents combined for a 141-65 (.684) record last season. In addition, four of the Jags’ seven non-conference opponents advanced to postseason play, while a total of six teams on the 2007-08 schedule earned trips to the NCAA Tournament.

After exhibition contests against Division I foes College of Charleston and Clemson, ASU will open the season Nov. 16-17 on the road in the University of Montevallo Coca-Cola Classic in Montevallo, Ala.

The Jaguars tip off their 12-game home schedule in Christenberry Fieldhouse on Saturday, Nov. 24 when they host Johnson C. Smith.

ASU begins Peach Belt Conference play on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at USC Aiken. The contest will mark the first-ever PBC home contest for the Pacers in their inaugural season in the state-of-the-art USC Aiken Convocation Center.

The Jaguars will meet Georgia for the first time in the regular season since 1988-89 when they face off on Monday, Dec. 3 in Athens. ASU is 0-3 all-time against the Bulldogs, who are coming off a 19-14 season and NIT appearance under fourth-year head coach Dennis Felton.

The Jags’ home schedule features 12 games, including the PBC home opener with Georgia College & State on Saturday, Dec. 1, cross-town rival Paine on Thursday, Dec. 13, Clayton State on Saturday, Jan. 5 and Columbus State on Monday, Feb. 4. ASU hosts Armstrong Atlantic State for Homecoming on Saturday, Feb. 16.

The Marvin Vanover Peach Belt Conference Tournament, named for the former PBC commissioner and ASU head basketball coach and athletic director, is slated for March 5-9 and will be played in Aiken, S.C.