Sept. 27, 2013
MVC ESPN Package | MVC FOX Package | Bears Ticket Info | Lady Bears Ticket Info | Twilight Tipoff
ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Valley Conference has finalized its 2013-14 men's and women's basketball television schedules, and Missouri State University will be well represented in the conference's TV plans for the upcoming season.
The Bears and Lady Bears will combine to make at least 11 appearances on the Valley's television package that includes the ESPN family of networks and FOX Sports Midwest.
"Very few NCAA Division I athletic leagues have a relationship with a regional cable partner like the Missouri Valley Conference has with FOX Sports Midwest and Senior Vice President/General Manager Jack Donovan," said Jack R. Watkins, MVC Associate Commissioner. "Extending The Valley brand nationally as well as regionally allows the league to maximize exposure and tell the 107-year story that is the Missouri Valley Conference," Watkins said.
In all, ESPN will televise 28 MVC basketball games on ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com. The MVC package on FOX Sports Midwest features 20 regular-season basketball games in addition to eight MVC Men's Tournament games and three MVC Women's Tournament contests.
Coach Paul Lusk's Bears will appear on the ESPN package at least seven times starting with an ESPN2 game at Louisville on Dec. 17. MSU will be featured on a pair of ESPN3 broadcasts in January with a visit from Wichita State (Jan. 11) and a trip to Indiana State Jan. 15. The Bears will then be on ESPNU three times -- at UNI on Jan. 18, at home Feb. 15 against UNI, and at home Feb. 22 against Indiana State. The Bears' other ESPN3 telecast is also at home on Feb. 12 against Drake. The Valley's Wildcard Weekend package (March 1) will feature two men's games -- one each on ESPN2 and ESPNU -- to be determined at a later date.
The Bears will appear on FOX Sports Midwest at least three times with both games against rival Southern Illinois -- Jan. 25 at JQH Arena and Feb. 8 in Carbondale -- in addition to the MVC Tournament in St. Louis (March 6-9). The Arch Madness package will feature first round, quarterfinal and semifinal games exclusively on FOX Sports Midwest with the finals on CBS.
Kellie Harper's Lady Bears will have the chance to play on national television at least twice with an ESPN3 game at Indiana State on Jan. 25, and a FOX Sports Midwest game at JQH Arena against league newcomer Loyola on Feb. 7. The conference's women's Wildcard spot will also include a single game on FOX Sports Midwest Feb. 27, while the MVC Tournament semifinals and finals will also be part of the FOX package, March 15-16.
All of the FOX Sports Midwest telecasts will also be carried on FOX Sports Indiana, FOX Sports Kansas City and Comcast SportsNet Chicago, either live or tape-delayed depending on inventory and availability.
Season tickets for the Bears and Lady Bears are available now at MissouriStateBears.com. The MSU men kick off an 18-game home slate on Oct. 27 with an exhibition matchup with McKendree, while the Lady Bears will host 16 games, beginning with an Oct. 31 exhibition game against Arkansas-Fort Smith. Fans will have their first opportunity to see the Bears and Lady Bears in action on Friday, Oct. 18 with the annual Twilight Tipoff at Hammons Student Center.
2013-14 MSU Bears and Lady Bears Television Schedule
| Lady Bears | | | |
| Date | Opponent | Network | Time |
| Sat., Jan. 25 | at Indiana State | ESPN3 | 1 p.m. |
| Fri., Feb. 7 | Loyola Chicago | FOX Sports Midwest | 7 p.m. |
| Thu., Feb. 27 | at Southern Illinois^ | FOX Sports Midwest | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., March 15 | MVC Tournament Semifinals^ | FOX Sports Midwest | 1:30 / 4 p.m. |
| Sun., March 16 | MVC Tournament Finals^ | FOX Sports Midwest | 2 p.m. |
| | ^ potential TV game for MSU | | |
| | | | |
| Bears | | | |
| Date | Opponent | Network | Time |
| Tue., Dec. 17 | at Louisville | ESPN2 | 8 p.m. |
| Sat., Jan. 11 | Wichita State | ESPN3 | 7 p.m. |
| Wed., Jan. 15 | at Indiana State | ESPN3 | 6 p.m. |
| Sat., Jan. 18 | at UNI | ESPNU | 12 p.m. |
| Sat., Jan. 25 | Southern Illinois | FOX Sports Midwest | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 8 | at Southern Illinois | FOX Sports Midwest | 6 p.m. |
| Wed., Feb. 12 | Drake | ESPN3 | 7 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 15 | UNI | ESPNU | 8 p.m. |
| Sat., Feb. 22 | Indiana State | ESPNU | 12 p.m. |
| Sat., March 1 | at Wichita State^ | ESPNU / ESPN2 | 12 / 3 p.m. |
| Thu., March 6 | MVC Tournament First Round^ | FOX Sports Midwest | 6 / 8:30 p.m. |
| Fri., March 7 | MVC Tournament Quarterfinals^ | FOX Sports Midwest | TBA |
| Sat., March 8 | MVC Tournament Semifinals^ | FOX Sports Midwest | 1:30 / 4 p.m. |
| Sun., March 9 | MVC Tournament Finals^ | CBS | 1 p.m. |
| | ^ potential TV game for MSU | | |
