Valley Releases Men’s Basketball Conference Schedules

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Conference announced its 2023-24 men’s basketball conference schedules Friday morning (Sept. 22) with each of the league’s 12 member schools slated to play 20 league games for the second season in a row.
 
All league schools will play 10 Valley home games and 10 Valley road games again this year. Even though each school plays every other school at least once, the current format is not a true double round-robin format.
 
In Missouri State’s case, the Bears will not play Southern Illinois at home, nor will they play at UIC in 2023-24. It marks the first time since joining the MVC in 1990 Missouri State will not host the rival Salukis during the regular season.
 
Like last year, conference play will start with a pair of games in the middle of the non-conference portion of the schedule. The Bears will open the Valley campaign on Wednesday, Nov. 29 against Evansville at Great Southern Bank Arena before traveling to Drake four days later on Saturday, Dec. 2.
 
Valley play resumes in January with nine conference games set for a busy month, including four home contests. The hectic slate will feature visits from UNI (Jan. 3), Murray State (Jan. 10), Illinois State (Jan. 20) and Drake (Jan. 24) to Great Southern Bank Arena. The rest of the month will include road games against Bradley (Jan. 6), Evansville (Jan. 13), Indiana State (Jan. 16), Valparaiso (Jan. 27) and Southern Illinois (Jan. 31).
 
February will feature four additional conference games at home, including: Belmont (Feb. 3), Indiana State (Feb. 10), Valparaiso (Feb. 17) and Bradley (Feb. 21). The month also includes road trips to UNI (Feb. 7), Murray State (Feb. 14), Belmont (Feb. 24) and Illinois State (Feb. 28).
 
The regular season concludes on Sunday, March 3 with a home tilt against UIC. The 2024 State Farm MVC Tournament runs March 7-10 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
 
All game times and television designations will be announced at a later date.
 
In addition, Missouri State made three non-conference schedule updates for the upcoming season as follows:

• The Bears will play their lone exhibition game on Thursday, Nov. 2 against Westminster (Mo.) College at Great Southern Bank Arena.
• The home game against Sam Houston on Saturday, Dec. 9 will be designated as Art Hains Day. The return of Missouri State’s iconic broadcaster after fighting a life-threatening illness for the past year will be celebrated with special giveaways and recognitions.
• MoState’s road non-conference game at Saint Mary’s has been moved to Saturday, Dec. 23. It was originally scheduled for Dec. 22.

 
Ford returns three starters, six lettermen and 10 players overall from a 17-15 squad. The Bears are also coming off a 12-8 finish in the Missouri Valley Conference, giving Missouri State three straight seasons with a dozen or more conference victories for the first time in program history.
 
Season ticket information is available now at (417) 836-8899 or by submitting a Season Ticket Interest Form. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.
 
 
2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference Schedule
Wed., Nov. 29  Evansville*
Sat., Dec. 2      at Drake*
Wed., Jan. 3    Northern Iowa*
Sat., Jan. 6      at Bradley
Wed., Jan. 10  Murray State*
Sat., Jan. 13    at Evansville*
Tue., Jan. 16   at Indiana State*
Sat., Jan. 20    Illinois State*
Wed., Jan. 24  Drake*
Sat., Jan. 27    at Valparaiso*
Wed., Jan. 31  at Southern Illinois*
Sat., Feb. 3      Belmont*
Wed., Feb. 7    at Northern Iowa*
Sat., Feb. 10    Indiana State*
Wed., Feb. 14  at Murray State*
Sat., Feb. 17    Valparaiso*
Wed., Feb. 21  Bradley*
Sat., Feb. 24    at Belmont*
Wed., Feb. 28  at Illinois State*
Sun., March 1 UIC*