JONESBORO, Ark. (4/28/16) – The Arkansas State men's and women's basketball teams learned their 2016-17 Sun Belt Conference schedules Thursday afternoon when the conference office announced the full slate of games for the upcoming season.
Utilizing an 18-game schedule for both the men's and women's basketball schedules' this season, the league will debut a new format allowing for school's to play weekly doubleheaders on Saturdays, while also playing women's games on Thursday nights and men's games on Monday nights.
The format, which will be in place for the 2017-18 season as well, allows for less travel time with team's making four road trips throughout the season that will consist of two games each. Travel partners will be used, with team's receiving an open date before playing their rivalry opponent each time throughout the year.
To purchase or renew a season ticket package for the upcoming basketball season, log onto AStateRedWolves.com/tickets or call the A-State Box Office at 888-ASU-FANS.
The Red Wolves will open league play at home for the first time since the 2011-12 season when the women's program hosts Louisiana-Monroe Dec. 29, followed by the men's league home opener two-nights later against Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 31 as part of a Saturday doubleheader with the A-State's women's program hosting the Ragin' Cajuns in the afternoon. The men's squad will host Louisiana-Monroe on Monday, Jan. 2 to conclude to the opening home stand and taking to the road.
A total of nine home dates dot the conference slate for the Red Wolves, including a Saturday matchup at the Convocation Center against Little Rock on Feb. 18 as part of a split doubleheader. A-State will take on the Trojans in Little Rock on Saturday, Jan. 14 marking the first time since 2010-11 that the Red Wolves have traveled to Little Rock for the first meeting in the season series.
Other key matchups include Coastal Carolina making its first trip to Jonesboro as a member of the Sun Belt Conference in early February. The women's program will host the Chanticleer's on Thursday's Feb. 2, while the men's game will take place Monday, Feb. 6.
Other dates for the men's squad include a trip to the state of Louisiana Jan 28-30 to take on the Ragin Cajuns and Warhawks, while the regular season home finale' will take place Monday, Feb. 27 against Georgia State. The final regular season weekend of the year will see all men's programs play games on Friday and Sunday to allow for extra time to prepare for the Sun Belt Conference Championship. The Red Wolves' conclude the season at Troy on March 5.
For the women's squad, the Red Wolves will host reigning Sun Belt Conference tournament champions Troy on Saturday, Jan. 21, while senior day for the women's squad will take place Saturday, Feb. 25 against Georgia Southern. The Red Wolves' end the regular season on Saturday, March 4 at South Alabama.
The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championship returns to New Orleans and Lakefront Arena. The tournaments will run from March 8-12 with all teams in both the men's and women's brackets advancing to play in the tournament.
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