WORCESTER — Clark men’s basketball coach Paul Phillips has never lacked for liveliness, but even he admits he might need to take a nap before the Cougars’ 2015-16 opener.

And he may also drink an extra cup of coffee.

Clark and Worcester State tip off the season at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 13 at Kneller Athletic Center. It will be the first NCAA Division 3 men’s game of the year.

“Things like this are fun to do,” Phillips said, “especially in Worcester and especially with a school that’s so close.”

Worcester State coach Dave Lindberg approached Phillips about playing a midnight game this season. Clark was for it, and the date and time were set.

“It’s the first minute we can possibly play,” Lindberg said.

Worcester State hoped to play a midnight game during the final season of its old gym, which was demolished after the 2012-13 season, but its opponent fell through. Lindberg said the Lancers plan to reciprocate this midnight game with Clark when WSU’s new state-of-the-art wellness center opens next year.

For the third straight season, Worcester State will play all of its games on the road. The Lancers are using the Holy Name gym for their preseason practices, which began last Thursday.

“For us,” Lindberg said, “we’re looking for a niche. We don’t have a gym, so anything different and special for us is something we can hang our hat on.”

Both schools are promoting the game on their respective campuses and hope to get a great student turnout.

“It’s a great way to get the students involved with the team early in the season,” Lindberg said. “It’s a unique way for students to rally around your team and hopefully that will carry through for the whole season.”

There are plans for contests, giveaways and other fun fan attractions, and Worcester State is in the preliminary stages of coordinating student buses to the game.

“I think there will be a good crowd and it will be something cool to see,” Phillips said. “Dave and I were talking and it’s about the excitement to get kids involved. More and more schools are trying to do things to get the student body invested.”

Daniel Webster and Rivier, nearby rivals in Nashua, New Hampshire, played midnight games each of the last three years, and last season’s game drew a standing-only crowd to Daniel Webster’s gym.

“Our guys are excited about it because the student body is excited about it, too,” Lindberg said, “and they’re sort of the centerpiece of that. It’s the first time we’re doing it and there are a lot of unknowns, but there is a lot of buzz on our campus about it and I know our guys are excited about it.”

Worcester State senior guard Manny Cabral said the team hasn’t yet discussed what the game-day preparation will be like for the unusual midnight start.

“Right now, we’re just trying to figure out where our team is at,” Cabral said. “We’ve never played this late. It’s a new experience and hopefully everyone will bring the same energy. As captain, I know I have to bring the same intensity and keep my team up.”

Someone suggested to Phillips that the team practice late at night leading up to the game, but the Cougars are sticking with their regular practice schedule, which includes a lot of early morning sessions.

“(The midnight game) is something out of the ordinary and it will be a big adjustment for all of us,” Clark junior forward David Mercier of Milford said. “We’ll have to do something during the day to be sure we have energy. I’m not sure what our classes are for Thursday and Friday, but you have to take it all into consideration.”

The Cougars are coming off a 9-16 season. Phillips is in his 18th year at Clark. WSU finished 6-20 in 2014-15. Lindberg is in his 22nd year as coach of the Lancers.

Both teams will play in Clark’s Holiday Tournament Dec. 29-30, but won’t face each other.