TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State Basketball head coach
Greg Lansing announced today the 2017-18 schedule for the Sycamores. The Sycamores will host 16 home games this year -- the most in one season since 2014.
The season begins with an exhibition contest on Friday, November 3 when the Sycamores host Marian at 7 pm (ET) inside Hulman Center. That will be the only exhibition contest this season for Indiana State.
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A much anticipated renewal to an old in-state rivalry will open the regular season on Friday, November 10 when the Sycamores travel to Assembly Hall in Bloomington to take on the Indiana Hoosiers. In a series which dates back to the early 1900's, but which has not been renewed since 2006, Indiana holds a 16-5 advantage. The last meeting in the series came on November 17, 2006 when the Sycamores fell 73-66 to the Hoosiers inside Assembly Hall. Prior to that, the Sycamores enjoyed their best run in the series with a 72-67 victory at Hulman Center in December of 2005 when the Hoosiers were ranked 18
th nationally. That win made it three victories in a span of four meetings, including the first-ever defeat of the Hoosiers in the Indiana Classic in 1999 as well as Menser's Miracle inside Hulman Center in 2000.
From there, the Sycamores will travel to Charleston, S.C. to take part in the 2017 Gildan Charleston Classic where they open with Auburn on November 16 at 11:30 a.m., live nationally on ESPNU. On November 17, the Sycamores will take on either Old Dominion or Temple at 11:00 am or 1:30 pm in the second day of action while the tournament wraps on Sunday, November 19. All of the games in the tournament will be televised on the ESPN Family of Networks. Fans can purchase travel packages that include official hotel accommodations by going toÂ
http://www.anthonytravel.com/Charleston or by calling 1-888-632-6951. Additional information can be found on the Charleston Classic's official Web site atÂ
www.CharlestonClassic.com. The Gildan Charleston Classic is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN.
Indiana State opens the home schedule against Missouri-St. Louis on Wednesday, November 22 inside Hulman Center to begin a three-game home stand. The game is set for a 5 pm (ET) tip-off with Indiana State holding a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series. The Sycamores downed Missouri-St. Louis last year by the score of 96-55 at home. The season continues on Saturday, November 25 when the Sycamores host long time rival Ball State inside Hulman Center. Indiana State defeated the Cardinals 80-74 in overtime last season to take a 73-58 lead in the all-time series.
The third game in the home stand will be Air Force on November 29 at 7 pm as part of the Missouri Valley/Mountain West Conference Series. Indiana State is 3-3 all-time in the event, which is tied with Northern Iowa for the best record by a current Missouri Valley Conference member. The Sycamores have won two games in a row against the Mountain West Conference with wins in 2015 against Wyoming at home and at Utah State in 2016. Indiana State's other previous victory came in 2009 at home against Colorado State. Last season, each conference picked up five wins in the challenge series which was the second time in the six-year history of the scheduling concept that the series has ended in a tie. The Sycamores will be facing off against Air Force for the first time in the history of the program. Air Force is the only school among the Mountain West Conference's current membership in which Indiana State has never battled on the hardwood before.
The Sycamores then hit the road to take on North Texas on December 6 in Denton, Texas. North Texas holds a 5-1 edge in the all-time series with the two teams last meeting in Hulman Center back in 2008. ISU last went to North Texas in 2007 and have dropped each of their last two meetings. It is interesting to note that Indiana State's only victory in the all-time series came on December 10, 1999 by the score of 77-63. That win came in Bloomington, Ind., which allowed the Sycamores to earn their historic victory over the Indiana Hoosiers in the Indiana Classic two nights later.
Indiana State will face off against Indianapolis in the second game of a doubleheader on December 9 inside Hulman Center at 4 pm (ET). The Sycamores hold a 21-13 advantage in a series which has been dormant during the regular season since 2005. ISU also hosts Green Bay on December 12 at 7 pm inside Hulman Center. Green Bay holds a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with the last meeting coming in 2011 inside Hulman Center which was a one-point Sycamore victory. That meeting plus another on the road in 2010 were both part of Bracketbusters.
The final road non-conference game is a return trip to Western Kentucky on December 16. WKU holds a 5-2 lead in the series and have won two in a row dating back to a 64-63 win inside E.A. Diddle Arena during the 2009 Preseason NIT. The Sycamores will wrap up non-conference play at Hulman Center on Friday, December 22 with a 6 pm (ET) tipoff against Elon, of the Colonial Athletic Association. There are only 2 universities with Phoenix as their mascot and not only are they both coming to Hulman Center, they are arriving in back-to-back fashion with Green Bay here on December 12 and the next home game with Elon on December 22. The Sycamores defeated Elon in the series' only previous meeting -- an 80-54 victory inside Hulman Center on December 18, 2000.
Just as they did with Loyola back in 2014, Indiana State will open the Missouri Valley Conference slate against league newcomer Valparaiso on December 28 inside Hulman Center. Indiana State was Loyola's first conference game during the initial season of MVC play and they will be the first game for the Crusaders as well. The Sycamores hold a 51-30 edge in the all-time series which was renewed last year on the road for the first time since 2004. Both Indiana State and Valpo were members of the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) from 1950-1968.
The Sycamores will travel to Illinois State on New Year's Eve and stay on the road with a trip to the Windy City on January 3 to take on Loyola. Indiana State returns home for a pair of games when they host Drake on January 6 and Northern Iowa on January 10. The Sycamores then go on the road against Missouri State on January 14 and in-state rival Evansville on January 17.Â
On Saturday, January 20 the Sycamores will host Illinois State in a game which will be the center piece of Indiana State Athletics Hall Of Fame Weekend. The Sycamores then travel to Carbondale to take on Southern Illinois on January 24 before hosting Bradley on January 28. Indiana State wraps up January with a trip to Valparaiso set for January 31.
The Sycamores travel to Northern Iowa on February 3 before returning home to take on both Missouri State (February 6) and Loyola (February 10). The Sycamores travel to Drake on February 14 before returning home against Southern Illinois on February 17. Indiana State will host Evansville on Wednesday, February 21 for Senior Night before traveling to Bradley on February 24 to wrap up the regular season.
The State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament will be held from March 1-4 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. When purchasing season tickets, fans may choose to add on tickets to the Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Tournament for a discounted rate of $135. Arch Madness will be held March 1-4, 2018 at the Scottrade Center. Once again, the team hotel is the Hilton Downtown (400 Olive St.). You may call 314-436-0002 to request rooms in the MVC Indiana State Fan Block.
Season tickets are already on sale and moving at a brisk pace, so Indiana State fans are encouraged to get their orders in early.Â
There are several different price points for season tickets, but all packages will include the full 16-game slate. Below are all of the pricing options available in 2017-18 for Sycamore Basketball. Purchasing season tickets is the only way to guarantee access to preferred seating locations for all home games this season.
2017-18Â INDIANA STATE BASKETBALL TICKET PRICING:
| Seat Location |
Price    |
SAF Gift Required (Per Seat) Â Â |
| Courtside |
$335 |
$400 |
| Floor I |
$271 |
$300 |
| Floor II |
$271 |
$250 |
| Priority I |
$231 |
$175 |
| Faculty/Staff (Priority I) |
$195 |
$175 |
| Priority II |
$215 |
$125 |
| Faculty/Staff (Priority II)Â |
$165 |
$125 |
| Upper Concourse |
$65 |
NONE |
The SAF donation that is required to purchase season tickets may be spread out with various payment arrangements made with the Indiana State University Foundation by calling 812-237-6134. Complimentary parking passes are provided to all Champions' Circle members of the Varsity Club who purchase Indiana State Basketball season tickets. Based on membership level, Champions' Circle members will be provided one (1) or two (2) regular and/or reserved parking passes. All season ticket holders who donate less than $1,500 annually are eligible to purchase a maximum of two (2) Indiana State Basketball Parking Passes. Parking passes are available for $25 each and grant access to several parking areas near Hulman Center.
Indiana State Athletics is offering new season ticket packages designed exclusively for recent graduates. Those who graduated during the 2016-17 academic year have access to special pricing for season tickets to Sycamore Basketball as well as football, women's basketball and baseball games. Those who graduated during the 2016-17 academic year will also have the opportunity to join the Sycamore Athletic Fund at a special introductory rate.
Exclusive Season Ticket Packages
Men's Basketball - $150 (Lower Level Seating - Sections 100, 121, 122, and 123 only)*
Buy a season ticket to all four sports for only $200
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*The purchase of men's basketball tickets requires a Varsity Club membership, and there is a limit two tickets per discounted Varsity Club Membership.
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As a member through the recent graduate introductory rate of only $50 per year for the first five years after graduation, you receive an elevated Sycamore Athletics experience. Membership includes Blue and White level benefits, opportunities to interact with coaches, student-athletes and other Varsity Club members and fulfills the required seat donation for men's basketball season tickets in select lower level seating sections.
The Sycamores Kids Club, presented by Chick-Fil-AÂ returns again in 2017-18Â and any child younger than the age of entering 8th grade may sign up for just $15. A membership includes one complimentary ticket to all regular season home football, basketball, women's basketball and baseball games plus other great experiences. Those interested in signing up can find a registration form on GoSycamores.com or by visiting the Hulman Center Box Office. Sycamores Kids Club complimentary seats will be subject to restrictions from certain locations at Indiana State venues.
Finally, any fan or business owner that would like to rent the Sycamore Basketball Party Deck at Hulman Center may contract the SAF at 812-237-6134.The full deck includes VIP access for 50 guests and costs $800, while the half deck seats 25 guests and costs $500. Custom food and drink menus are available through Sodexo.
Those wishing to purchase season tickets should contact the Hulman Center Ticket Office during normal business hours or by phone at 812-237-3737. Renewal packages have already been sent via U.S. Mail to all basketball season ticket holders from last season. Ticket information and the ability to purchase season tickets and renew Varsity Club memberships can be found online at GoSycamores.com.