April 8, 2016
Fan Travel Package
SPRINGFIELD - The Missouri State University men's basketball team will embark on an early August foreign tour to the Bahamas as part of the team's preparation for the 2016-17 season.
The trip, which was made possible exclusively through private donations and community support, will see the Bears depart on Aug. 2 for Nassau and return on Aug. 7. MSU will play three international goodwill games and also spend time practicing, touring the island and providing community service.
"We are very excited about this opportunity," said Missouri State head coach Paul Lusk. This trip would not be possible without the private support that has been provided to our program. We are so grateful for that support. This experience will give our program a major boost on what we believe can be a banner season for the Bears."
The NCAA allows teams to take a foreign trip once every four years. Missouri State's most-recent international summer trip was to Costa Rica in 2012, an excursion that saw the Bears roll to a 4-0 record.
Division I teams are also permitted 10 full summer practices in preparation for a foreign trip. MSU players will remain on campus over the summer for their usual offseason workout regimen and begin practice leading up to the trip.
MSU returns four starters and nine lettermen for the 2016-17 season, including two of the top four returning scorers in the Missouri Valley Conference. The 2016 MVC Newcomer of the Year, Dequon Miller, leads the cast after leading the Bears in scoring (12.7), assists (96) and 3-pointers (57) a year ago, while Chris Kendrix averaged 12.1 points and 4.8 rebounds while earning a reputation as one of the league's top free throw shooters (.805).
The Bears also return MVC All-Freshman Team selections Obediah Church and Jarred Dixon who combined for 49 starts as rookies last season. Church notched 6.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 50 blocked shots last winter, while Dixon scored 8.0 points per game and snagged 40 steals. MSU also returns seniors Tyler McCullough and Jordan Martin; junior Austin Ruder and sophomores Robin Thompson and Ryan Kreklow -- all of whom have starting experience for the Bears.
The team's newcomers will also participate in the foreign tour. During the early NLI signing period last November, Missouri State received commitments from Greg Williams (G, 6-6, 180, Fr., Lynchburg, Va., Genesis Academy), Jarrid Rhodes (G, 6-7, 195, Jr., Palmetto, Fla., Palmetto High, Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa College) and Alize Johnson (F, 6-8, 200, Jr., Williamsport, Pa., St. John Neumann High, Frank Phillips [Texas] College). The trio comprise one of the strongest groups of signees in program history.
The Bahamas tour is organized by Sport Tours International, based in Milwaukee.
Join the Bears in the Bahamas | Fan Travel Information
Sport Tours International is offering a package to Missouri State fans and alumni from August 2-7.
The package includes five nights at the beachfront Atlantis Coral Tower. A buffet breakfast each morning at the Marketplace Restaurant and admission and bus transportation to and from all the MSU basketball games is included along with a local guide.
Cost:
- $2,195 per person double occupancy
- $2,695 per person single occupancy
Airfare is not included in the fan travel package. A non-refundable deposit is due at registration with final payment due July 1.
To reserve your space, contact Bret Seymour (bret@sporttours.net) with Sport Tours International at (414) 228-7337. All individuals are responsible for obtaining a valid, United States passport valid through at least October 5, 2016.
