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LOS ANGELES -- The season doesn't officially begin for another week, but LMU men's basketball will play it's first game of the 2016-17 season on Friday, Nov. 4 when they host Sonoma State for the lone exhibition game at 7 pm.

The week began with the annual WCC Basketball Tip-off hosted at Spectrum SportsNet studios in El Segundo. The event features coaches from both the men's and women's basketball teams in the West Coast Cofnernce, along with a student-athlete from each program. The LMU Sports Network was there to get a look at what to expect for this Preview Week.

The Lions enter the 2016-17 season with seven returning letterwinners from last year's team. Returning for the Lions are seniors Brandon Brown, Shamar Johnson and Buay Tuach. The returning juniors include Steven Haney Jr. and Petr Herman. The sophomores are Jeffery McClendon and Munis Tutu.

Six newcomers will make their debut on Friday. A pair of seniors make their way to the Lions and will be eligible this season. Stefan Jovanovic, who helped Hawaii to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, and Kelvin Amayo, who was granted a sixth-year of eligibility by the NCAA, will finish their careers with the Lions this season. Another transfer joining the Lions is Trevor Manuel. He joined the Lions from Oregon at mid-year in 2015-16 and will be eligible to play at the end of the Fall 2016 semester.

Three freshman round-out the Lions' roster, including Fairfax High School product Donald Gipson, and Sweden natives Erik Johansson and 7-foot, 1-inch Mattias Markusson.

Ticket packages are available for the Lions' upcoming 18-game home schedule. Get your tickets today:

TIP-OFF WEEK PACKAGE: $85 lower level/$75 upper level
This is the best way to get to see the best opening weekend at Gersten Pavilion on record. Join the Lions for their season opener on Friday, Nov. 11 against Vanguard and then on Thursday, Nov. 17, join the Lions as they host national power UConn. Join us for special pregame celebrations and special programing to get the new season started right. Join us for postgame autograph sessions and more. Then come back less than a week later to be part of the Lions' showdown with national power UConn for a nationally televised broadcast through the ESPN family of networks. It will be the first trip to Gersten Pavilion for the Huskies and you don't want to miss this. With this package, get one upper level adult ticket for each game for just $75 or lower level reserved $85! Seating will be limited, so act fast. To purchase the TIP-OFF WEEK PACKAGE, CLICK HERE

b>YEAR-END CELEBRATION: $50 lower level/$40 upper level
LMU will begin play within the West Coast Conference with two of the best. Help the Lions close-out the 2016 calendar year and begin the WCC season in grand style with this special two game package to watch the Lions take on Saint Mary's on Thursday, Dec. 29 and then BYU on Friday, Dec. 31. Get one upper level ticket to each game for just $40 and lower level package is just $50.To purchase the YEAR-END CELEBRATION PACKAGE, CLICK HERE

FAMILY NEW YEAR PACK: $80 - 4 ticket/4 hotdogs
Close out 2016 on the right foot by bringing the family to the WCC Showdown between the Lions and BYU. This special family package is for 4 upper level tickets and 4 free hot dog coupons for when the Lions take on BYU on Saturday, Dec. 31. End 2016 right with Lion basketball. To purchase the special FAMILY NEW YEAR PACK, CLICK HERE.

LITTLE LIONS CLUB SIXTH-MAN PACKAGE: Part of being a Little Lions Club member is access to all home games at LMU for free, including six select men's basketball games. For 2016-17, those games are:
• Thursday, Dec. 8 - LMU vs. Southern Utah
• Saturday, Dec. 17 - Doubleheader - LMU vs. Incarnate World
• Saturday, Jan. 7 - LMU vs. Santa Clara
• Thursday, Jan. 19 - LMU vs. San Diego
• Thursday, Feb. 9 - LMU vs. Gonzaga
• Thursday, Jan. 23 - LMU vs. San Francisco
Family members wanting to join the Little Lion to the games can take advantage of the special SIXTH MAN PACK, which includes an upper level ticket to all six games, including the showdown with Gonzaga. That's more than 45% savings off regular single game ticket price! So join us this 2016-17 season, and CLICK HERE FOR SIXTH MAN PACKAGE. For more information on the Little Lions Club, CLICK HERE.

The best way to get tickets to this season of LMU basketball is still through season tickets. To renew season tickets, click MY ACCOUNT. To buy new season ticket, click BUY TICKETS. Have the promo code for the local community season ticket, click PROMO CODE.

Support LMU's 22 intercollegiate teams and it's student-athletes through scholarships and team support by joining the Lions Athletics Fund. Your help will make LMU #LIONSTRONG.