The Associated Press

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Marshall men’s basketball team will open the 2011-12 season with three straight home games and has three Big East teams on the nonconference schedule.

The schedule released Thursday has Marshall opening the regular season Nov. 11 at home against Alabama State. That’s followed by home games with Jacksonville State on Nov. 13 and Northwestern State on Nov. 19.

Marshall has road games at Cincinnati on Nov. 25 and Syracuse on Dec. 6. The Thundering Herd also will play West Virginia in their annual matchup in Charleston on Jan. 18.

Marshall opens Conference USA play at home Jan. 4 against Texas-El Paso.