Bobcats Among Four Teams Entering Men's Hoops Series with Four Summit League Foes
11/27/2017 4:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Montana State faces South Dakota State, North Dakota State, North Dakota and Omaha in next four seasons
Members of the Big Sky Conference and Summit League have agreed to a four-year men's basketball series involving four teams from each league, which begins during the 2018-19 season.
Each school will play one home game and road contest against separate schools from the other league during each of the four seasons. Big Sky schools participating are Montana State, Montana, Idaho and Eastern Washington. The Summit is represented by North Dakota State, North Dakota, Omaha and South Dakota State.
"Men's basketball scheduling is a challenge, particularly in our geographic region," said Montana State Director of Athletics Leon Costello, who along with Bobcat coach Brian Fish were among those initiating the process. "This series guarantees a home game against a quality Division I opponent each season, and it builds familiarity between two highly competitive conferences. This series is a great way to overcome those scheduling challenges and provides benefits to each team."
The University of North Dakota, in its final year of membership in the Big Sky in 2017-18 before moving to the Summit League. The Cats have played series participant Omaha three straight seasons, a streak that extends to four next year.
The rundown of games is:
Year One – North Dakota at Montana State, Montana State at Omaha, Montana at South Dakota State, North Dakota State at Montana, Eastern Washington at North Dakota State, South Dakota State at Eastern Washington, Omaha at Idaho, Idaho at North Dakota.
Year Two – Montana State at North Dakota State, South Dakota State at Montana State, Montana at Omaha, North Dakota at Montana, Eastern Washington at North Dakota, Omaha at Eastern Washington, North Dakota State at Idaho, Idaho at South Dakota State.
Year Three – Montana State at North Dakota, Omaha at Montana State, South Dakota State at Montana, Montana at North Dakota State, North Dakota State at Eastern Washington, Eastern Washington at South Dakota State, Idaho at Omaha, North Dakota at Idaho.
Year Four – Montana State at South Dakota State, North Dakota State at Montana State, South Dakota State at Idaho, Idaho at North Dakota State, Eastern Washington at Omaha, North Dakota at Eastern Washington, Montana at North Dakota, Omaha at Montana.
