The Fresno State men's basketball team will play Southern Illinois for the first time in over 46 years on Nov. 28, 2012 when the Bulldogs visit Carbondale, Ill.
April 23, 2012
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Fresno State men's basketball team will head out on the road to play at Southern Illinois on Nov. 28, which marks the first time the Bulldogs will compete in the MW/MVC Challenge.
"We are excited about the opportunity to be a part of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge and the great exposure it brings to our program and conference," Fresno State head men's basketball coach Rodney Terry said.
Fresno State and Southern Illinois have squared off on the hardwood just once before when the Salukis won 93-70 on March 9, 1966.
The agreement between the MW and MVC is in the final year of a four-year term. In each of the first two years, the Challenge featured head-to-head competition between nine Mountain West and nine Missouri Valley teams, while last year's Challenge consisted of eight games. Nine matchups will make up the 2012 Challenge, with Mountain West teams hosting four of the contests. Seven of the nine games will take place the week of Nov. 28-Dec. 4 while the remaining two contests are scheduled for Nov. 17 and Dec. 19. Bradley will be the MVC team that does not participate in the 2012 Challenge Series.
The Mountain West won the 2010 Challenge, 8-1, and holds a 16-10 lead in the first three years of the series after the two conferences split last year's matchups, 4-4. Last season, the leagues combined for six NCAA tournament appearances, which included second-round wins by New Mexico and Creighton. Overall, the two conferences earned a collective 13 postseason berths and seven postseason victories in 2011-12.
The Mountain West has ranked among the Top 9 in the NCAA's final RPI report in 12 of the last 13 years, including two straight No. 5 rankings, while the Valley has been among the Top 9 in seven of the last eight seasons. Teams from the two leagues have squared off 67 times since the inception of the Mountain West in 1999, with MW squads holding a 38-29 edge in those contests.
The Mountain West and Missouri Valley combined to place nine teams in the Top 100 of the RPI last season, including six in the Top 50. Two teams (Creighton-21; New Mexico-23) finished in the 2011-12 final USA Today/ESPN Top-25 Coaches' poll, while three more (San Diego State, UNLV, Wichita State) joined the Bluejays and Lobos in the final Associated Press poll released prior to the NCAA tournament.
About the Mountain West Conference
From its inception in 1999, the Mountain West has been committed to excellence in intercollegiate athletics, while promoting the academic missions of its member institutions. Progressive in its approach, the MW continues to cultivate opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level and foster academic achievement and sportsmanship. Mountain West membership in 2012-13 will include the United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, Colorado State University, Fresno State, University of Nevada, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, UNLV and University of Wyoming.
About the Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference continues to lead by example as one of college athletics' most progressive conferences. The Valley emphasizes the importance of the student-athlete and is aggressive in its approach to provide opportunities for its member institutions. Founded in 1907, the Missouri Valley Conference (www.mvc-sports.com) is the nation's second-oldest NCAA Division I conference and continues to be a leader in college athletics. League members include Bradley University, Creighton University, Drake University, the University of Evansville, Illinois State University, Indiana State University, Missouri State University, the University of Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois University, and Wichita State University.
2012 MOUNTAIN WEST-MISSOURI VALLEY CHALLENGE
Dates - Match-ups (Series Records)
Nov. 17 - San Diego State at Missouri State (Series tied, 2-2; last meeting 3/14/07)
Nov. 28 - Boise State at Creighton (First meeting)
Nov. 28 - Fresno State at Southern Illinois (SIU leads, 1-0; only meeting 3/9/66)
Dec. 1 - Wichita State at Air Force (WSU leads, 1-0; only meeting 1/26/63)
Dec. 1 - Evansville at Colorado State (First meeting)
Dec. 1 - Drake at Nevada (Drake leads, 3-0; last meeting 12/16/69)
Dec. 1 - New Mexico at Indiana State (First meeting)
Dec. 4 - Wyoming at Illinois State (UW leads, 1-0; only meeting 12/28/85)
Dec. 19 - UNI at UNLV (UNI leads, 0-1; 3/18/10)
2012-13 Fresno State Men's Basketball Season Tickets on Sale Now!
For fans looking to support Fresno State student-athlete scholarships and secure 2012-13 men's basketball season tickets, packages are available for as low as $149 through The Bulldog Foundation ($99 for Level 7 season tickets and a minimum donation of $50).
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