SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State men's basketball head coach Cuonzo Martin has finalized the non-conference portion of his team's 2025-26 schedule, an 11-game stretch in November and December that features eight home games in addition to one preseason exhibition in late October.
 
Martin's squad will begin the campaign with a home exhibition game against Maryville University on Friday, Oct. 31 before starting a three-game home stretch against Missouri Southern (Nov. 4), Northwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 8) and Arkansas State (Nov. 11).  Arkansas State is coming off a 25-11 season that culminated in a Sun Belt co-championship and second-round advancement in the NIT. It will be the Red Wolves' first trip to Springfield since 2019.
 
A Nov. 15 road trip to UT Arlington precedes another three-game home stand with contests at Great Southern Bank Arena against UTRGV (Nov. 22), Long Island (Nov. 24) and Northeastern State (Nov. 30). The two games against UTRGV and Long Island are part of an approved MTE event collaboration with Illinois which will also host those two programs on opposite dates.
 
The Bears play four non-conference games in December, starting with a Dec. 6 trip to Tulsa in a rematch from last season's triple-overtime showdown in Springfield.
 
December's slate continues with a road game at Xavier University in Cincinnati on Dec. 12. Xavier is coming off a 22-12 season and NCAA berth that saw the Musketeers defeat Texas in the opening round before falling to Illinois. The Bears last played at Xavier in 2019.
 
The Bears wrap up the non-conference slate with home matchups against Oral Roberts (Dec. 16) and in-state foe Lindenwood (Dec. 23). This will be the fourth straight year the Bears will square off with ORU and the second time in three years they will play host to Lindenwood.
 
Missouri State's 20-game Conference USA schedule was released in early July with the league opener taking place Dec. 29 at Delaware before MoState's CUSA home opener on Jan. 2 against UTEP.
 
Missouri State's inaugural season in Conference USA promises to be an exciting one for the Bears, and fans won't want to miss a minute of the excitement at Great Southern Bank Arena this winter. Season ticket for the upcoming season are on sale now with purchase options available online, by calling (417) 836-7678, or visiting the box office at Great Southern Bank Arena during regular box office hours.
 
Game start times and single-game ticket information will be announced at a later date.

Coach Cuonzo Martin's Bears are poised to break through this winter as Martin begins his second season back at the helm of the Missouri State program. He returns starters Michael Osei-Bonsu and Zaxton King to the fold along with fellow veteran Logan Epes. The Bears welcome 11 newcomers to campus for what is shaping up to be a renaissance campaign for the proud Missouri State men's program.
 
   
 
 
Missouri State 
2025-26 Schedule
Fri., Oct. 31     Maryville (Exh.)
Tue., Nov. 4    Missouri Southern
Sat., Nov. 8     Northwestern Oklahoma St.
Tue., Nov. 11  Arkansas State
Sat., Nov. 15   at UT Arlington
Sat., Nov. 22   UT Rio Grande Valley
Mon., Nov. 24 Long Island
Sun., Nov. 30  Northeastern State
Sun., Dec. 6    at Tulsa
Fri., Dec. 12    at Xavier
Tue., Dec. 16  Oral Roberts
Tue., Dec. 23  Lindenwood
Mon., Dec. 29 at Delaware*
Fri., Jan. 2       UTEP*
Sun., Jan. 4    New Mexico State*
Wed., Jan. 7   at Kennesaw State*
Sat., Jan. 10    FIU*
Wed., Jan. 14 at Western Kentucky*
Sat., Jan. 17    at Middle Tennessee*
Thu., Jan. 22   at New Mexico State*
Sat., Jan. 24    at UTEP*
Wed., Jan. 28 Sam Houston*
Sat., Jan. 31    Jacksonville State*
Sat., Feb. 7     at Liberty*    
Thu., Feb. 12  LA Tech*
Sat., Feb. 14   Delaware*
Wed., Feb. 18 Kennesaw State*
Sat., Feb. 21   at FIU*
Thu., Feb. 26  at LA Tech*
Sat., Feb. 28   at Sam Houston*
Thu., March 5 Western Kentucky*
Sat., March 7  Middle Tennessee*

*CUSA games
2026 CUSA Basketball Championship is set for March 10-14 in Huntsville, Ala.