MVC MEN’S BASKETBALL DAILY UPDATE • APRIL 1, 2015 MVC Contact: Mike Kern, Associate Commissioner Ofice: 314.444.4326 • Cell: 314.435.4779 • Email: [email protected] 1818 Chouteau Ave. • St. Louis, MO 63103 • Fax: 314.444.4356 WWW.MVC-SPORTS.COM

MISSOURI VALLEY ANNOUNCES RENEWAL OF MW/MVC CHALLENGE IN MEN’S BASKTEBALL

ST. LOUIS – The Mountain West and Missouri Valley conferences announced today an agreement to renew the annual Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge for men’s bas- ketball. The revived Challenge Series will feature head-to-head competition between 10 Mountain West and 10 Missouri Valley teams annually, with each conference hosting ive games apiece each season.

Annual matchups for teams in the Challenge Series will be based upon factors in- cluding the previous year’s achievements, records and RPI rankings, as well as projected rankings/strength of teams in the upcoming season, based on composite sources. Each season will be considered separately in terms of matchups, therefore, games from the previous year’s Challenge Series may not be returned.

Television rights for each Challenge Series con- 2015 CHALLENGE SCHEDULE test will be controlled by the home team’s confer- Date Matchup Location Fri., Nov. 13 Illinois State at San Diego State San Diego, Calif. ence television agreement, which will dictate the Fri., Nov. 13 Air Force at Southern Illinois Carbondale, Ill. distribution of the game and all related matters, Sat., Nov. 14 Colorado State at UNI Cedar Falls, Iowa including tip times. Mon., Nov. 16 Wyoming at Indiana State Terre Haute, Ind. Wed., Nov. 18 Loyola at New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M. Tues., Dec. 1 Utah State at Missouri State Springield, Mo. “Bringing back the Mountain West-Missouri Wed., Dec. 2 UNLV at Wichita State Wichita, Kan. Valley Challenge is mutually beneicial for both Sat., Dec. 12 Drake at Nevada Reno, Nev. Sun., Dec. 20 Bradley at Boise State Boise, Idaho leagues,” said MW Commissioner Craig Thomp- Sun., Dec. 20 Evansville at Fresno State Fresno, Calif. son. “Improving overall non-conference sched- ules and providing quality opponents is important to the Mountain West. Aligning with another consistent Top-10 RPI league has proven to be successful as demonstrated during the last Challenge Series with the Missouri Valley from 2009-2013.”

“The reintroduction of this Challenge Series is a positive step for both leagues,” says MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin. “Tough non-conference scheduling has always been paramount in improving our league’s stature on the national scene. The series helps institutions in both leagues achieve that goal. It’s great for the fans of the Missouri Valley and the Mountain West as new rivalries are developed with nationally-recognized programs that have a strong commitment to men’s basketball.”

The Mountain West has ranked among the Top 10 in the NCAA’s inal RPI report in nine of the last 10 years, while the Valley has been among the Top 10 eight times during that same span. The leagues have combined for nine Sweet 16 and one Final Four (Wichita State) appearances over the last decade. The previous Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge Series In 2015, the Missouri Valley Conference ran from the 2009-10 through the 2012-13 seasons. During that and Mountain West Conference will com- four-year span, six MVC teams competed in the NCAA Tournament, pete in a “Challenge Series” between the and the league combined for eight NCAA Tourney wins, which two conferences. The league conducted an initial four-year series from 2009-10 through included two Sweet 16 appearances and WSU’s run to the 2013 the 2012-13 seasons, with the MW hold- Final Four. The MW has a 22-13 edge in the 35 previous games, ing a 2-1-1 edge in the series and a 22-13 but that did include a lopsided 8-1 record in games against the overall record. MVC in 2010. UNI and Wichita State have enjoyed the best indi- 2012 CHALLENGE RESULTS (MW won, 6-3) vidual team success among MVC members, with each compiling a 2011 CHALLENGE RESULTS (Tied, 4-4) 3-1 record during the irst four-year series. 2010 CHALLENGE RESULTS (MW won, 8-1) 2009 CHALLENGE RESULTS (MVC, 5-4)

In 2014-15, the MVC had ive teams in post-season play, which MVC RECORDS IN THE SERIES (13-22) included two in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the past Bradley: 0-3 (Streak: Lost 3 in a row) four seasons. UNI (1-1) and Wichita State (2-1) each won a sec- Drake: 2-2 (Streak (Won 2 in a row) Evansville: 0-3 (Lost 3 in a row) ond-round game while the Shockers advanced to the Sweet 16. Illinois State: 1-2 (Lost 2 in a row) Indiana State: 1-3 (Lost 3 in a row) Loyola: 0-0 (did not compete in series) In the 2015 Challenge Series, games will be played across Missouri State: 1-2 (Lost 2 in a row) November and December. In future seasons, Challenge Series UNI: 3-1 (Lost 1 in a row) contests will primarily be played during a nine-day window begin- Southern Illinois: 1-2 (Won 1 in a row) Wichita State: 3-1 (Won 2 in a row) ning the weekend after Thanksgiving. Creighton: 1-3 (now a member of the Big East)

About the Mountain West Conference From its inception in 1999, the Mountain West has been com- mitted to excellence in intercollegiate athletics, while promoting the academic missions of its member institu- tions. Progressive in its approach, the Mountain West continues to cultivate opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level, while fostering academic achievement and sportsmanship. Now in its 16th year, the MW has been assertive in its involvement with the NCAA governance structure and has taken a leader- ship role in the overall administration of intercollegiate athletics. The Mountain West membership is comprised of 11 all-sport members: the United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, Colorado State University, Fresno State, University of Nevada, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, San José State Univer- sity, UNLV, Utah State University and University of Wyoming. In addition, the University of Hawai‘i and Colorado College participate in the Mountain West as single-sport members in football and women’s soccer, respectively.

About the Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference, the nation’s second-oldest NCAA Division I conference, continues to be a leader in college athletics and is one of the nation’s most progressive conferences, celebrating its 108th sea- son in 2014-15. League members have worked together to focus on common goals and objectives, placing a high value on league harmony, while continuing to invest in athletic programs to compete at the highest level. League members for basketball include Bradley, Drake, Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Loyola Chicago, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, and Wichita State.