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.
Twitter Feed
Flooding, lightning strikes, etc. have cost @RacersHoops two home games. Had to play 'neutral site' tonight instead of at home and Wednesday's goes from home to away. Tough break for the Racers, and the whole area has been hit with difficulties. #FatherHarry
Murray State's scheduled home game Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois being moved to Banterra Center in Carbondale. #ValleyHoops
Gigantic game for @BradleyUMBB today in Des Moines. If they have a chance to catch @DrakeBulldogsMB, they have to win today. The Bulldogs can basically win the title today. @BustingBrackets breaks it all down. #FatherHarry https://bit.ly/3EGiVgi
Not rooting for any particular @ValleyHoops, but chaos is always fun. If things break certain ways, after today there could be a six-way tie for fifth place.
Fun to listen to @MLBLarry on the @SIU_Basketball/@BelmontMBB game tonight. Good job brother. #FatherHarry
