2014-15 Quick Facts | This is LMU Basketball | We Are LMU... | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter

BARCELONA, Spain -- As the LMU men's basketball team travels through Spain, taking on a grueling training schedule while taking on top international opponents, the Lions hope to get a leg-up on tough competition to come. On Monday, the Lions got an official look at who that will be as the West Coast Conference announced its 2014-15 line-up. And it isn't for the faint of heart.

The Mike Dunlap era for the Lions' will officially begin with the LMU Classic presented by the Office of International Students and Scholars on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14-15. It kicks-off a schedule that will feature at least half of the games against opponents who finished in the top-75 in RPI in 2013-14.

"We are happy to finally have the schedule in place and it will be a real big challenge for our young program," said Dunlap. "We play three Pac-12 teams on the road, face a grueling slate at the Diamond Head Classic, among other tough challenges in non-conference. And it all is about getting us ready for the very tough conference season."

The LMU Classic will feature WCC institution San Diego taking on Boise State in the opener on Friday, Nov. 14, followed by the first game of the season for the Lions as they take on SE Missouri State in the nightcap. The tournament concludes on Saturday with San Diego taking on SE Missouri State followed by the Lions taking on the Broncos.

The rest of the non-conference home slate features San Diego Christian in the 2nd Annual Alumni Family Day game on Sunday, Nov. 23, UC Riverside in the 4th Annual LMU Holiday Classic - a game with free admission on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and finishing with UC Irvine on Saturday, Nov. 29.

On the road, the Lions will travel to Arizona State (who finished No. 44 in the RPI) on Nov. 20, to USC on Dec. 3, to Northern Arizona on Dec. 13 and to Stanford (who is ranked No. 23 by several preseason polls) on Dec. 17.

LMU will close non-conference play at the 2014 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Dec. 22-25. All the games will be on the ESPN family of networks. The Lions will open with power Wichita State, who is ranked as high as No. 8 in the preseason polls. That game will be played at 8 pm (PT) on Monday, Dec. 22 and will be aired on ESPNU. Other teams in the tournament include host Hawaii, Nebraska (ranked No. 17), Ohio, George Washington, DePaul and Colorado (ranked 18).

Conference play will then begin on Monday, Dec. 29 with the Wells Fargo PCH Cup battle against rival Pepperdine at Gersten Pavilion. It starts a three-game home stand to start conference. The New Year will begin with Pacific on Thursday, Jan. 1 and then Saint Mary's on Saturday, Jan. 3 at Gersten Pavilion.

The home stand will be broken up by a trip to San Diego (Jan. 8) and then BYU (Jan.10) before returning home for Portland in Loyolan Hat-On Night on Jan. 15 followed by the 2015 LMU Homecoming on Saturday, Jan. 17 against Gonzaga. It will be a special Jersey Blackout for the game.

A four-game home stand will be up next as they travel to Santa Clara (Jan. 22) and San Francisco (Jan. 24) to close out the first half of conference. The second half will begin at Saint Mary's (Jan. 29) and Pacific (Jan. 31).

February begins with San Diego at Gersten Pavilion on Feb. 5 followed by BYU on Feb. 7 for LMU Family Weekend. The final five games of conference will see the Lions travel to Gonzaga (Feb. 12) and Portland (Feb. 14) before closing home play with San Francisco (Feb. 19) and Santa Clara (Feb. 21). The game against the Broncos at Gersten Pavilion will be the 2015 Hall of Fame Game, the 25th anniversary celebration for the 1989-90 Elite Eight team and the Recent Alum Return to the Roar Section game.

The regular season schedule will be a bookend close as the Lions travel to rival Pepperdine on Saturday, Feb. 28. The 2015 WCC Basketball Championships will then begin on Mar. 5 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The tournament will run through Tuesday, Mar. 10 with the championship games.

Other opportunities to get sneak peaks at the 2014-15 LMU Lions will be available to season ticket holders throughout the preseason. Watch LMULions.com for opportunities. Season tickets are on sale now at LMULions.com/tickets.

Fans can expect an announcement regarding the full slate of WCC telecasts in the coming month. The complete 2014-15 West Coast Conference men's basketball schedule can be accessed via the link below, but is subject to change.

Composite WCC Men's Basketball Schedule