It will have been just under eight months since Murray State ended the Panthers’ season in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament in the first round when they take the court to start their 2016 season.

The Eastern men’s basketball team will open against Eureka College Nov. 6 on their home floor in Lantz Arena. Then the Panthers will have a tough test against Saint Francis, a school they played last year and only won by three points against.

Eastern finished its 2015-16 season with an overall record of 13-17 and a 9-7 record in OVC play.

Things were looking up for the Panthers heading into the OVC tournament having to take on Murray State in the first round, but Murray State was too much for the Panthers and ended their season.

The Panthers’ first crack at the Racers will come in 2017. Eastern will host the Racers Jan. 12 in Lantz Arena and hit the road Feb. 18 to take on the Racers on their home floor.

The Panthers will play 15 home games this season, including a four-game home stand over the course of 10 days where they will host Western, Troy, South Alabama and Bradley.

Eastern will end its season on a three-game road trip before heading to the OVC tournament on March 1, if they qualify.

Austin Peay barely snuck into the tournament as the No. 8 seed. The Governors went on to win the OVC title, which gave them an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, getting to play in “March Madness.” Austin Peay drew the No. 16 seed, faced the Kansas Jayhawks in the first round and were blown out.

Eastern’s first OVC game will come on New Year’s Eve when the Panthers host Jacksonville State.

Sean Hastings can be reached at 581-2812 or smhastings@eiu.edu.