Editor: The following is part of a press release from siuecougars.com.
(Edwardsville, IL) – SIUE men’s basketball will play 15 regular season home games, including against SIU Carbondale, as part of the 2018-19 season scheduled revealed today by Head Coach Jon Harris.
The 15 home games are the most in SIUE’s Division I era. Including an exhibition contest, Cougar fans will have 16 opportunities to see SIUE at Vadalabene Center.
The Cougars also will return to the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic in December.
“We are really excited about our schedule this upcoming season,” Harris said. “It will provide great balance with six nonconference home games, some strong road environments and a great destination event for our student-athletes.”
SIUE will welcome NCAA Division II opponent Kentucky State to the Vadalabene Center (Nov. 2) for an exhibition contest before opening the regular season with Pacific (Nov. 6). Winthrop and Incarnate Word visit Edwardsville ahead of the matchup with the Salukis (Dec. 1).
The meeting with SIU Carbondale marks the eighth consecutive year the sister schools have squared off in men’s basketball. It is the fourth time the schools have met at Vadalabene Center since SIUE’s move to Division I.
“Our nonconference home slate will be headlined by Carbondale and a strong Winthrop team that won 19 games a season ago,” Harris said. “We’ll also host good up-and-coming teams like Pacific, which is led by Damon Stoudemire.”
SIUE makes early season trips to Valparaiso (Nov. 21) and Western Illinois (Nov. 28) before action picks up in the Las Vegas Classic.
As part of the tournament, the Cougars travel to Drake and Washington State ahead of a pair of games at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. SIUE faces Cal State Northridge and then will play either Northern Colorado or Rider.
“Traveling to Washington State, Drake, and Valparaiso, among others, will prepare us for hostile environments in the OVC, and we’ll head to Las Vegas just before Christmas,” Harris said.
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Playing the point at @UEAthletics_MBB is @EKUHoops transfer Tayshawn Comer. The @ValleyHoops squad opens its season on Tuesday, but we wanted to get to know Comer now. Here is our conversation. #ValleyRunsDeep #NCAAHoops
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