(UW Athletics release)
LARAMIE, Wyo. – The Mountain West Conference and the Missouri Valley Conference announced the pairings for the 2018 MW/MVC Challenge Series in men’s basketball on Thursday. The Cowboys will head to the University of Evansville on Nov. 28 with a game time to be determined inside the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
The Pokes will face off against the Purple Aces for the first time since Dec. 5, 1989, as the Cowboys earned a 66-64 win in the Arena-Auditorium. The team’s only meeting in Evansville came on Dec. 23, 1989 with the Purple Aces taking the contest 84-63. Wyoming is 2-1 all-time against Evansville.
The 2018 slate will feature three NCAA tournament teams from last season (Loyola Chicago, Nevada and San Diego State) and a rematch of the thrilling Sweet 16 game between Nevada and Loyola Chicago.
In 2017, for the second consecutive season, the Mountain West and Missouri Valley split the 10-game series, 5-5. The MW has an all-time series edge of 3-1-3 in seven previous Challenge seasons, including an overall advantage of 38-27 in games played in association with the series.
The Challenge Series features head-to-head competition between 10 Mountain West and 10 Missouri Valley teams annually, with each conference hosting five games apiece each season. The 2018 edition of the Challenge Series is the eighth. Annual matchups for teams in the Challenge Series are based upon factors including the previous year’s achievements, records and RPI rankings, as well as projected rankings/strength of teams in the upcoming season, based upon composite sources. Each season is considered separately in terms of matchups, therefore, games from the previous year’s Challenge Series may not be returned. One MW team does not play in the Challenge Series over a two-year period.
Television rights for each Challenge Series contest will be controlled by the home team’s conference television agreement, which will dictate the distribution of the game and all related matters, including tip times.
2018 MOUNTAIN WEST-MISSOURI VALLEY CHALLENGE SERIES SCHEDULE
Tues., Nov. 27 – Nevada at Loyola Chicago
Tues., Nov. 27 – Boise State at Drake
Tues., Nov. 27 – Southern Illinois at Colorado State
Wed., Nov. 28 – Valparaiso at UNLV
Wed., Nov. 28 – Northern Iowa at Utah State
Wed., Nov. 28 – Indiana State at San Jose State
Wed., Nov. 28 – Missouri State at Air Force
Wed., Nov. 28 – Wyoming at Evansville
Sat., Dec. 1 – New Mexico at Bradley
Sat., Dec. 1 – San Diego State at Illinois St
