JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team tips-off the 2015-16 season Friday afternoon in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, taking on the Chippewas of Central Michigan.

JSU and CMU met twice two years ago with a home-and-home series. The Chippewas came away with a narrow 66-61 victory in Mt. Pleasant before JSU claimed an 82-73 win in Jacksonville two weeks later. Though only a couple of seasons ago, there is not a single player remaining on the Gamecock roster who played in either game.

JSU will usher in head coach James Green's eighth season at the helm with nine newcomers on the 2015-16 squad. The nine new players is tied for seventh-most in NCAA Division I competition.

The Gamecocks will work to replace their three leading scorers from last season which includes Darion Rackley, a four-year standout for JSU who finished his career as runner-up on the school's all-time Division I scoring list with 1,326 points. On the defensive side, JSU lost Jamal Hunter, another fixture in the Gamecock lineup. Hunter ended career in Jacksonville with 108 blocks, becoming just the fourth player to reach triple digit rejections.

JSU took its first steps in settling into a new lineup earlier last week with a 110-61 exhibition win over Miles College. It marked the first time Jax State reached 100 points in a game since 2004.

Friday's contest is the third straight year the Gamecocks start the season on the road. Head Coach James Green is 4-3 in season openers while at JSU. The Gamecocks will go for the program's first season-opening road win since moving to Division I.

The Gamecocks return to Jacksonville for their home-opener Sunday afternoon against Fort Valley State. JSU will then turn around and host Oakwood the following night.