The men’s basketball team will open its first of two exhibition games tonight in Lantz Arena, welcoming BC Albacomp from Budapest, Hungary.

The 7 p.m. tipoff will not only give the Panthers their first taste of game situations, but will allow the coaches to continue to solidfy the team after last season’s Ohio Valley Conference tournament win and 21-10 overall record.

“We’ll get to see how much game slippage we have and what some of the combinations look like,” head coach Rick Samuels said.

The Panthers return three starters, including OVC preseason Player of the Year Henry Domercant. Domercant averaged 22.8 points per game, scoring a total of 706 points. He is joined by senior forward Todd Bergmann and junior center Jan Thompson.

While there are still questionable positions on the court after the graduation of two starters, Kyle Hill and Matt Britton, the team will work to rotate in several faces, especially in the backcourt.

Junior Craig Lewis will be starting at shooting guard while sophomore Rod Henry will start at the point. He will share minutes with sophomore Chris Herrera, sophomore Jason Wright and junior transfer Raymon Taylor.

“The early lead is the player who is the veteran,” Samuels said. “Rod Henry will start because he’s more familiar with what we’re doing, but we’ll rotate several at point guard.

Sophomores Jesse Mackinson and Ryan Kelly will be in the forward and center positions as well with junior transfer J.R. Reynolds rotating in as shooting guard.

“I anticipate we’ll spread the minutes out. The starters tend to get more minutes, but I’d like to get a look at the whole team as best I can.”

BC Albacomp began its United States tour Tuesday night with an 86-83 loss to the University of Illinois-Chicago in overtime.

“Foreign teams play a different style, but we’re ready to play,” Samuels said. “They’re tired of practicing, mentally and physically.”

Not only will BC Albacomp bring a different style of play, but a different look as well. Two centers reach 7-feet while two more players measure at 6-feet-11-inch.

Damon Williams, an American on the Hungarian squad, finished with 31 points to lead his team against the Flames.

“They’re big,” Samuels said. “The American, Damon Williams, had a big night. That’s their first game. I’m sure they’re travel weary, but it sounds to me that they’re a very formidable team.”