Visits from Tulsa, Drake, UIC Highlight Men's Non-Con Schedule
August 28, 2026 | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State men's basketball head coach Cuonzo Martin announced today the final pieces of his squad's 2026-27 season slate with the release of the Bears non-conference game dates.
Highlighting Mo State's 12-game non-conference schedule will be home games against top regional foes Drake (Nov. 21), Tulsa (Dec. 8) and UIC (Dec. 21) as part of 17-game home slate during the upcoming campaign.
"Bears fans, buckle up," said Martin. "It's going to be an exciting ride!"
The Bears will open the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Nov. 3 when they entertain in-state foe Lincoln University at Great Southern Bank Arena. The clubs last met in the 2024-25 season with the Bears going 7-0 against the in-state foes since 1982 in a rivalry that dates back to 1954.
The opener kicks off a five-game home stand that includes matchups against Truman State on Nov. 6, Newman University on Nov. 10, Abilene Christian on Nov. 16 and former MVC rival Drake on Nov. 21. It will be the first regular-season game against Truman since 1982, the first-ever regular-season meeting against Newman, Abilene Christian's first trip to Springfield since 1959 and the first meeting between the Bears and Drake since Mo State left The Valley. Missouri State has won four of the last seven games in the Drake series, dating to 2022.
Martin's squad concludes a seven-game November slate with a Nov. 27 game at Oral Roberts and the squad's third in-state home opponent of the opening month on Nov. 30 against Lindenwood. It will mark the fifth consecutive year (and 17th time since 2010) the Bears and Golden Eagles have played, while the contest vs. Lindenwood is just the second meeting against the Lions and first since 2023.
The Bears will play five non-conference foes in December with two high-profile home contests in store. A Dec. 3 meeting at Arkansas State kicks off the month before a return game against 2026 NIT finalist Tulsa on Dec. 6 at GSB Arena. It will be the 35th all-time meeting against the Red Wolves of A-State who slipped past the Bears in Springfield last season to renew the long-time rivalry. This season also marks the fourth consecutive years the Bears have played Tulsa in a series that dates back to 1932.
Mo State then wraps up December with a trip to recent Division I addition Tarleton State on Dec. 12 before the previously-announced neutral-site game against NCAA Regional semifinalist Iowa State as part of the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City on Dec. 18. It will be MSU's first-ever game against both schools.
The month concludes with a home tilt against another former conference foe with a Dec. 21 contest against 2026 NIT qualifier UIC at Great Southern Bank Arena. The Bears and Flames have been conference rivals under two previous leagues -- the Mid-Continent and MVC -- with the Bears owning a 17-6 series lead.
The 18-game Conference USA slate was released earlier this summer (CUSA Schedule Release).
THE BEARS
Under coach Cuonzo Martin, Missouri State made a seven-win improvement in 2025-26 from the previous season, making a run to the Conference USA Tournament semifinals after upsetting top-seeded Liberty in the event's quarterfinals. The Bears return two backcourt starters and three lettermen for Martin's third season back with the program.
THE NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Tue., Nov. 3 - Lincoln University
Fri., Nov. 6 - Truman State
Tue., Nov. 10 - Newman University
Mon., Nov. 16 - Abilene Christian
Sat., Nov. 21 - Drake
Fri., Nov. 27 - at Oral Roberts
Mon. Nov. 30 - Lindenwood
Thu., Dec. 3 - at Arkansas State
Sun., Dec. 6 - Tulsa
Sat., Dec. 12 - at Tarleton State
Fri, Dec. 18 - vs. Iowa State (in Kansas City)
Mon., Dec. 21 - UIC
Highlighting Mo State's 12-game non-conference schedule will be home games against top regional foes Drake (Nov. 21), Tulsa (Dec. 8) and UIC (Dec. 21) as part of 17-game home slate during the upcoming campaign.
"Bears fans, buckle up," said Martin. "It's going to be an exciting ride!"
The Bears will open the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Nov. 3 when they entertain in-state foe Lincoln University at Great Southern Bank Arena. The clubs last met in the 2024-25 season with the Bears going 7-0 against the in-state foes since 1982 in a rivalry that dates back to 1954.
The opener kicks off a five-game home stand that includes matchups against Truman State on Nov. 6, Newman University on Nov. 10, Abilene Christian on Nov. 16 and former MVC rival Drake on Nov. 21. It will be the first regular-season game against Truman since 1982, the first-ever regular-season meeting against Newman, Abilene Christian's first trip to Springfield since 1959 and the first meeting between the Bears and Drake since Mo State left The Valley. Missouri State has won four of the last seven games in the Drake series, dating to 2022.
Martin's squad concludes a seven-game November slate with a Nov. 27 game at Oral Roberts and the squad's third in-state home opponent of the opening month on Nov. 30 against Lindenwood. It will mark the fifth consecutive year (and 17th time since 2010) the Bears and Golden Eagles have played, while the contest vs. Lindenwood is just the second meeting against the Lions and first since 2023.
The Bears will play five non-conference foes in December with two high-profile home contests in store. A Dec. 3 meeting at Arkansas State kicks off the month before a return game against 2026 NIT finalist Tulsa on Dec. 6 at GSB Arena. It will be the 35th all-time meeting against the Red Wolves of A-State who slipped past the Bears in Springfield last season to renew the long-time rivalry. This season also marks the fourth consecutive years the Bears have played Tulsa in a series that dates back to 1932.
Mo State then wraps up December with a trip to recent Division I addition Tarleton State on Dec. 12 before the previously-announced neutral-site game against NCAA Regional semifinalist Iowa State as part of the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City on Dec. 18. It will be MSU's first-ever game against both schools.
The month concludes with a home tilt against another former conference foe with a Dec. 21 contest against 2026 NIT qualifier UIC at Great Southern Bank Arena. The Bears and Flames have been conference rivals under two previous leagues -- the Mid-Continent and MVC -- with the Bears owning a 17-6 series lead.
The 18-game Conference USA slate was released earlier this summer (CUSA Schedule Release).
THE BEARS
Under coach Cuonzo Martin, Missouri State made a seven-win improvement in 2025-26 from the previous season, making a run to the Conference USA Tournament semifinals after upsetting top-seeded Liberty in the event's quarterfinals. The Bears return two backcourt starters and three lettermen for Martin's third season back with the program.
THE NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Tue., Nov. 3 - Lincoln University
Fri., Nov. 6 - Truman State
Tue., Nov. 10 - Newman University
Mon., Nov. 16 - Abilene Christian
Sat., Nov. 21 - Drake
Fri., Nov. 27 - at Oral Roberts
Mon. Nov. 30 - Lindenwood
Thu., Dec. 3 - at Arkansas State
Sun., Dec. 6 - Tulsa
Sat., Dec. 12 - at Tarleton State
Fri, Dec. 18 - vs. Iowa State (in Kansas City)
Mon., Dec. 21 - UIC
Monday, August 31
Monday, August 31
Monday, August 31
Thursday, August 27
