DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton will honor the life of Steve McElvene in a pregame ceremony before the 2016-17 regular season home opener against Austin Peay on Friday, Nov. 11.

A tribute to the late UD center, who died May 12 at 20 at his family's home in Fort Wayne, Ind., of an enlarged heart, will begin about 15 minutes before tip-off at 6:50 p.m. ET.

The 6-foot-11 McElvene played one season for the Flyers, setting a single-season record with 55 blocked shots. He also averaged 6.1 points and 5.6 rebounds.

"Big Steve" had a big personality to go along with his big physical presence, and was a popular figure on campus and in his hometown. He spent the afternoon before his death speaking to classes at his high school alma mater, New Haven High School.

The Flyers are wearing a "5", McElvene's number, above their hearts on their game jerseys this year.

Members of the McElvene family will be in attendance at Friday's game.

The Flyers will commence their 109th season of basketball by hosting the Austin Peay Governors on Friday, Nov. 11. The game will be carried by Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and is available with live streaming video, audio and stats at DaytonFlyers.com.

Dayton finished the 2015-16 regular season co-champions in the Atlantic 10, with a 14-4 conference record. UD was 25-8 overall, and reached the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive season. The Flyers' 78 wins over the last three seasons match the best three-year record in school history.

The defending 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champion Austin Peay Governors finished 18-18 last season. The Govs will have the green light in 2016-17; five returners attempted at least 25 three-pointers last season. Austin Peay won both exhibition contests 112-63 over Thomas More and 89-72 against Sewanee.