Jan. 28, 2011
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The Mountain West Conference and Missouri Valley Conference have announced next season’s pairings for the MWC/MVC Challenge Series in men’s basketball, and UNLV will play at Wichita State on Sunday, Dec. 4.
The agreement between the two conferences is in its third year of a four-year deal. In each of the previous two years, the Challenge featured head-to-head competition between nine MWC and nine MVC teams. Because of membership changes in the MWC, the 2011 Challenge will consist of eight games, with each conference hosting four of them. All eight contests will take place the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2011.
UNLV and Wichita State have only met two previous times in men’s basketball, with each school recording a win. The Shockers won the first meeting, 87-83, at Wichita State on Jan. 21, 1978, while UNLV won, 111-89, at home on Jan. 10, 1979.
The Runnin’ Rebels are 2-0 in the MWC/MVC Challenge Series, defeating Southern Illinois, 78-69, on Nov. 21, 2009, at the Thomas & Mack Center, and winning at Illinois State, 82-51, on Dec. 1 of this season.
Illinois State and Southern Illinois will be the MVC teams that do not participate in the 2011 Challenge Series. However, future MWC member Fresno State will host Illinois State in a non-conference contest on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Fresno State becomes a member of the MWC in 2012-13.
Pairings are made in two-year cycles. In the 2011 and 2012 challenges, every team that participates will receive one road and one home game, meaning UNLV is scheduled to host its opponent in 2012.
The MWC won the 2010 series, 8-1, and holds a 12-6 lead in the first two years of the Challenge.
2011 MWC/MVC Challenge Series Schedule
Nov. 30 - Creighton at San Diego State (CU leads 3-1; last meeting 1/3/1974)
Dec. 3 - Air Force at Drake (DU leads 5-0; last meeting 12/12/1981)
Dec. 3 - Indiana State at Boise State (First meeting)
Dec. 3 - Colorado State at UNI (First meeting)
Dec. 3 - Missouri State at New Mexico (UNM leads 1-0; only meeting 12/22/1962)
Dec. 3 - TCU at Evansville (First meeting)
Dec. 3 - Bradley at Wyoming (BU leads 1-0; only meeting 3/30/1951)
Dec. 4 - UNLV at Wichita State (Series tied 1-1; last meeting 1/10/1979)
