Printable Schedule

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Valley Conference formally announced its 2016-17 men's basketball schedule Tuesday (Sept. 6), finalizing Missouri State's 31-game ledger for the upcoming season.

The Bears will play 17 home games at JQH Arena this season, matching the most regular-season games ever in the 11,000-seat facility. In addition to the nine MVC home games, the previously-released non-conference slate includes visits from Valparaiso and North Dakota State to Springfield, in addition to hosting regional rival Oral Roberts for the third straight season at "The Q."

Missouri State opens league play on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at Northern Iowa and welcomes Indiana State to JQH Arena on New Year's Eve for the Bears' conference home opener.

The Bears host Southern Illinois (Jan. 7), Evansville (Jan. 11), Bradley (Jan. 21), Drake (Jan. 24) and Loyola (Jan. 31) during the month of January. Including four road contests in January, MSU will play half of its 18 conference contests in the first month of the year.

February begins with a pair of road games, but concludes with three of five in Springfield and visits from expected league front runners Northern Iowa (Feb. 12), Illinois State (Feb. 15) and Wichita State (Feb. 25). The WSU game will be the regular-season finale for the Bears before heading to St. Louis for the State Farm MVC Tournament, March 2-5.

Lusk's troops open the 2016-17 season with three straight home non-conference games, including the season opener against Alabama A&M on Friday, Nov. 11. MSU will then entertain Jacksonville State on Nov. 13, and Fontbonne University on Nov. 17.

After their first road game of the year at DePaul on Nov. 23, the Bears close out the month of November at home against North Dakota State, which has advanced to the NCAA Tournament two of the last three seasons, Nov. 27. December begins with a trip to the U.S. Air Force Academy on Dec. 3 as part of the Mountain West - Missouri Valley Challenge. Missouri State then plays its final non-conference road game with a matchup at Southeast Missouri State on Dec. 7 in the 146th meeting between the two programs.

MSU will then reel off four straight at JQH Arena with visits from 2016 NIT runner-up Valparaiso (Dec. 10) and Oral Roberts (Dec. 14) before two preliminary games as part of the Las Vegas Classic on Dec. 17 (SEMO) and Dec. 19 (Chicago State).

The Bears conclude their non-conference schedule at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Dec. 22-23. MSU begins semifinal play against USC before tackling DePaul or Wyoming in the final round. Travel packages for the Las Vegas Classic are currently available by calling (888) 234-2334 or (702) 284-7777.

MSU head coach Paul Lusk is entering his sixth season in Springfield and returns four starters, nine lettermen and more than 70 percent of the club's scoring and rebounding for 2016-17.

MSU season tickets are on sale now by calling (417) 836-8899 or logging on to www.MissouriStateBears.com for more information. New season ticket holders may also take advantage of the "Money-Back Guarantee" promotion, providing a risk-free opportunity for fans to experience Bears' basketball for the upcoming year. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.