BRISTOL, Conn. – The University of Dayton men's basketball team will make its first appearance in the ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon on Tuesday, Nov. 17, when the Flyers host Alabama.  

Dayton will square off against Alabama at 1 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on ESPN.

The Flyers' game with the Crimson Tide is the first of five games on ESPN during the Marathon.

"For us to be a part of the biggest one-day event in college basketball is huge," Dayton coach Archie Miller said. "It's a great opportunity for exposure for our program, and a great opportunity for us to showcase our fans and atmosphere."

Dayton was 27-9 and advanced to the Third Round of the NCAA tournament this season. UD has won 53 games in the last two season, including five NCAA tournament games.  

The Flyers return four starters –senior Dyshawn Pierre, and juniors Kyle Davis, Kendall Pollard and Scoochie Smith -- and eight letterwinners. The quartet will serve as UD's 2015-16 co-captains.

Alabama is now coached by former NBA star and head coach Avery Johnson. The Crimson Tide was 19-15 last season and played in the NIT.

"We recognize the early tip-off time is unique for our fans, but our fans have proven to support the Flyers day or night," UD Deputy Director of Athletics Neil Sullivan said. "We know our fans and the students will embrace the novelty of a 1 p.m. start and bring a great atmosphere to the Tip-Off Marathon's lead-off game on ESPN."

The Marathon, now in its eighth year, will feature 16 men's and women's college basketball games beginning on Monday, Nov. 16 and continuing Tuesday, Nov. 17, across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. It will bring more than 24 hours of game action to mark the start of the 2015-16 season. The schedule includes 15 men's games and a top-25 women's matchup.

The Marathon schedule will include 10 games tipping off about every two hours beginning Monday with a quadruple header at 5:30 p.m. featuring three-time defending national champion Connecticut women.