Hempstead, NY – Expectations and excitement are high for the Hofstra Men's Basketball team, which begins its 2015-16 campaign on Friday when it hosts Canisius at 7 p.m. 

All fans are encouraged to wear their blue Midnight Madness t-shirts or other Hofstra blue shirts to the games to blue out the Mack!

The game is part of a doubleheader with the Hofstra Women's Basketball team as they will host Navy at 5 p.m. and the men's game will start 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women's game. Both contests will take place at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. 

Fans can purchase tickets by visiting HofstraTickets.com, where it is now possible to print their tickets at home. In addition fans can also call (516) HOF-TIXX or visit the Hofstra Athletics Box Office in the Mack Sports Complex for more ticket information.

There will be Pride Productions live video of the game with links available on this page or via the men's basketball schedule page at GoHofstra.com. The Pride Productions audio only broadcast can also be heard via the portal and also on WRHU (88.7 FM), WGCH (1490 AM) and the WRHU mobile app. 

Hofstra heads into its season opener sporting a record of 21-21 in season openers since becoming a NCAA Division I program beginning with the 1972-73 season and is 4-6 in its last 10. Over its last 10 home openers Hofstra is 9-1 and also has a record of 28-14 all-time in home openers. 

The rebuilding of the Hofstra Men's Basketball program is nearly complete as Head Coach Joe Mihalich took the next step in 2014-15 as the Pride won 20 games and advanced to the postseason College Basketball Invitational. Hofstra will look to take the final step in 2015-16 as the Pride hopes to capture the Colonial Athletic Association title and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. 

Hofstra has plenty of pieces in place to be one of the leading contenders in the CAA this season as the Pride return three starters among the seven letterwinners back from the 2014-15 season. In addition, a pair of transfers are eligible this season and Hofstra welcomes five newcomers to the roster as they lay the foundation for a successful 2015-16 and strong future for Pride Basketball.

Last year's squad won 20 games, advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals and earned a berth in the College Basketball Invitational. The Pride will return its top three scorers from a season ago, including senior guard Juan'ya Green, senior forward Ameen Tanksley and junior guard Brian Bernardi.

The 20 wins marked the 10th time in the program's Division I history (since 1972-73) that Hofstra has won at least 20 games in a season and the first since the 2010-11 team won 21 games. 

Hofstra was chosen as the preseason favorite in the Colonial Athletic Association poll, while Green was named the CAA Preseason Player of the Year and was also named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List. In addition, Green and Tanksley were chosen to the preseason All-CAA First Team. 

Canisius went 18-15 a season ago and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.  

Hofstra will have two home games to open the season as the Pride will host Molloy College on Monday at 7 p.m. Following that contest Hofstra heads on the road for arguably the most exciting portion of their non-conference schedule as the Pride will participate in the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Hofstra opens with Florida State on November 20 at 5:30 p.m. in a game that will be televised nationally by the CBS Sports Network.