ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Valley Conference has released the 2018-19 men’s basketball schedules, the conference office announced Tuesday (Sept. 4).
After a 13-game non-conference slate, Missouri State opens conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at Southern Illinois as part of a nine-game month that includes four other road games — Indiana State (Jan. 8), Bradley (Jan. 12), Drake (Jan. 20) and Valparaiso (Jan. 29).
The Bears’ Valley home opener is Saturday, Jan. 5 against Valparaiso at 1 p.m. MSU will also entertain Evansville (Jan. 16), defending league champion Loyola (Jan. 23), and Bradley (Jan. 26) as part of MSU Athletics Hall of Fame weekend, in the month of January.
An eight-game February slate begins with a road game at Northern Iowa (Feb. 2) and also includes road tilts at Evansville (Feb. 13), Loyola (Feb. 17) and Illinois State (Feb. 27). The Bears also play four home games in the month, starting with rival Southern Illinois on Feb. 6, continuing with coach Dana Ford’s alma mater Illinois State on Feb. 10, and concluding with UNI (Feb. 20) and Indiana State (Feb. 23).
MSU wraps its 18-game MVC schedule on Saturday, March 2 at JQH Arena against Drake University as part of the league’s Wildcard Weekend.
The State Farm MVC Tournament returns to St. Louis, March 7-10, at the newly-renamed Enterprise Center (formerly Scottrade Center).
The Bears return three lettermen (Obediah Church, Jarred Dixon, Ryan Kreklow) and four other squad members (Abdul Fofana, Ross Owens, Jarred Ridder, Darrian Scott) from an 18-15 campaign.
The team’s 2018-19 roster also includes five eligible newcomers — Guards Keandre Cook and Josh Webster, along with forwards Kabir Mohammed, Jan Wojcik and Szymon Wojcik. Three additional players — Tulio Da Silva from South Florida, Josh Hall from Nevada, and Tyrik Dixon from Middle Tennessee — will have to sit out the 2018-19 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Season tickets may be reserved now by phone (417) 836-8899 or email DuaneMiller@MissouriState.edu. The season-ticket application and additional ticket information can be accessed at MissouriStateBears.com.
