MSU Announces Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule

STARKVILLE, Miss. - For the first time since the 2005 campaign, Mississippi State will open its basketball season on the road as the Bulldogs travel to Troy in a Nov. 9 showdown against the Trojans.

That outing will be the inaugural game at Trojan Arena, a new state-of-the-art facility that was completed earlier this summer.

The Bulldogs, under the direction of first-year coach Rick Ray, make their home debut on Nov. 13 against Florida Atlantic.

In all, MSU plays 12 non-SEC games, in addition to an exhibition affair against William Carey on Nov. 4.

"Looking at the schedule, there's no question it's going to be challenging," Ray said. "We play a lot of games early on the road, but I think that will present an invaluable opportunity for this team to bond and will help us prepare for SEC play."

After Florida Atlantic, MSU travels across the Pacific for the Maui Invitational slated for Nov. 19-21. After opening against perennial ACC power North Carolina, the Bulldogs will face either Butler or Marquette on Nov. 20, followed by an opponent to be determined on Nov. 21.

Then it's back to Starkville on Nov. 27 for a game against Alcorn State before hitting the road to Providence for the SEC/Big East Challenge on Dec. 1.

"We'll learn a lot about ourselves as a team early on," Ray said.

The Bulldogs return to the Hump on Dec. 4 against Texas-San Antonio, but following the exam break, they hit the road again, this time to Chicago on Dec. 15 to face Loyola to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the schools' historic showdown in the 1963 NCAA Tournament.

From there, MSU is back in the Magnolia State to battle Central Arkansas on Dec. 22 at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson before concluding non-conference play at Humphrey Coliseum against Alabama A&M on Dec. 30 and New Orleans on Jan. 3.

"Our roster features a lot of new faces, and this type of non-conference schedule will give them the chance early to see what college basketball is all about," Ray said.

The SEC portion of the schedule is expected to be announced in the next two weeks.

2012-13 MSU Schedule
Nov. 4  William Carey (Exhibition)
Nov. 9  at Troy
Nov. 13  Florida Atlantic
Nov. 19  #North Carolina
Nov. 20  #Butler or Marquette
Nov. 21 #TBA
Nov. 27  Alcorn State
Dec. 1  at Providence
Dec. 4  Texas-San Antonio
Dec. 15  at Loyola-Chicago
Dec. 22  Central Arkansas (Jackson)
Dec. 30  Alabama A&M
Jan. 3  New Orleans