LORETTO, Pa. (Nov. 11, 2010) – The Saint Francis men's basketball team will tip off the 2010-11 campaign when it travels to our nation's capitol to take on Patriot League power American University, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night.

Under the guidance of third-year head coach Don Friday, the Red Flash return seven letterwinners, including senior center Mislav Jukic (Zagreb, Crotia/Life Center Acadamy) (Zagreb, Croatia / Life Center Academy), who sat out the 2009-10 season after surgery to repair impingements in both of his hips.

Saint Francis had a turn-around campaign last season when it saw a five-win overall improvement to finish 11-19, and a six-win improvement in the Northeast Conference for a 9-9 record. Friday led the Red Flash into the Northeast Conference Tournament for the first time in five seasons with the league's best turn-around in the past three years.

Friday's game will be carried live on The EDGE 1400 AM with Joe Vesnesky (play-by-play) and Bernie Jubeck (color) calling the action.

SFU also returns senior guard Sorena Orandi (Vastra Frolunda, Sweden/Solebury Prep) (Vastra Frolunda, Sweden / Solebury Prep), and sophomores Anthony Ervin (Chesterfield, Va./Fork Union Military Academy) (Chesterfield, Va. / Fork Union Military Academy), Will Felder (Cleveland, OH/Lutheran East Hs) (Cleveland, Ohio / Lutheran East), Chris Johnson (Newport News, Va./Denbigh) (Newport News, Va. / Denbigh), Tony Peters (Roselle, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) (Roselle, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) and Umar Shannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) (Atlantic City, N.J. / Atlantic City).

Eight newcomers will provide depth and competition for a Red Flash team that was picked to finish tied for seventh in the 12-team Northeast Conference.

Saint Francis will return to Loretto for its home opener against Colgate at 7 p.m. on Monday. Tickets are available by calling 814-472-3286.

For periodic men's basketball updates on Twitter, follow Director of Athletic Communications Bob Volkert at SFUVolkert.