The men's basketball team will host the 2011 Morris Cregger New Year's Classic at the Bast Center Jan. 2-3. The Maroons will take on Tufts today at 5 p.m. followed by a 3 p.m. match-up against Hiwassee (TN) tomorrow. Emory & Henry will take on the Tigers of Hiwassee at 3 p.m. to tip-off the invitational this afternoon. The Wasps will host the Jumbos of Tufts at 3 p.m. on Monday.

Roanoke, which brings a 4-4 record into 2011, will host first-time opponents Tufts (4-4) and Hiwassee (2-11). The Maroons are 2-2 against first-time opponents this season, including a 2-1 mark against non-div. III competition.

The Maroons opened the season with a 3-1 mark with big victories over Warren Wilson (88-63) and Patrick Henry (107-65). Their only loss during that span came against an undefeated (9-0 currently) Ferrum, which is picked to win it all in the USA-South Conference. The Panthers have received 20 votes in the latest D3Hoops.com Top-25 Poll. The game was tied at 68-all late in the game before Ferrum pulled away in the final minute of play.

Roanoke mounted a 22-point lead and held on to down the Mustangs of Stevenson, 92-84 in non-conference action on Nov. 27. In the ODAC-opener on Dec. 1 against Washington and Lee, the Generals pulled away late to secure the victory. After the loss, the men rebounded with an 84-75 triumph over Lynchburg on the road.

Melvin Felix (Caguas, Puerto Rico, Salem) (17.5 ppg) is ranked second in the ODAC in scoring, fourth in three-point percentage (46.2%) and fifth in free-throw percentage (81.5%). He has led the Maroons in scoring six times this season. Felix is shooting 53.2% from the floor and leads the squad in steals with 16.

For game notes on the Tufts game, click HERE. For game notes on the Hiwassee game, click HERE.