MUNCIE, Ind. -- After opening the 2006-07 basketball season with three home games, the Ball State men’s basketball team travels to Las Vegas to play Kansas Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. in the sixth annual Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational. The Cardinals will then play Western Kentucky Nov. 25 at 4:30 p.m. Both games in Las Vegas will be played at the Orleans Hotel Arena.
Defending National Champion Florida and defending Big 12 Champion Kansas -- considered by many preseason publications as the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams -- headline the field of eight teams. Each team will play four games -- the first two at campus sites and the final two at the Orleans Arena.
“We are excited to open the 2006-07 season at home in front of our fans and students,” says first-year head coach Ronny Thompson. “Playing tradition-rich programs like Kansas and Western Kentucky will be an exciting opportunity. The games in Las Vegas will provide a great atmosphere for both our players and our fans.”
Ball State will open its 2006-07 season Nov. 11 in Muncie against Northern Colorado. Eight days later, the Cardinals will open the Las Vegas Invitational Nov. 19 against Prairie View A & M in Muncie, before hosting Tennessee Chattanooga in the second round Nov. 21 at Worthen Arena.
Ball State’s other contracted contests include home games with Indiana State (Dec. 2), Valparaiso (Dec. 16) and Temple (Dec. 19). The Cardinals will play at Butler (Dec. 6), at Tennessee State (Dec. 22) and at Indiana (Dec. 30).
The complete schedule, which includes three additional non-conference games still to be added along with a new 16-game Mid-American Conference slate, will be announced at a later date.
2006 Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational
First Round
Saturday, November 18 Tennessee Chattanooga at Florida
Sunday, November 19 Towson at Kansas
Sunday, November 19 Tennessee State at Western Kentucky
Sunday, November 19 Prairie View at Ball State
Second Round
Tuesday, November 21 Tennessee Chattanooga at Ball State
Tuesday, November 21 Towson at Western Kentucky
Tuesday, November 21 Tennessee State at Kansas
Tuesday, November 21 Prairie View at Florida
Third Round at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas
Friday, November 24 Tennessee State vs. Prairie View (11:30 a.m. PST)
Friday, November 24 Tennessee Chattanooga vs. Towson (2:00 p.m. PST)
Friday, November 24 Ball State vs. Kansas (5:00 p.m. PST)
Friday, November 24 Western Kentucky vs. Florida (7:30 p.m. PST)
Final Round at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas
Saturday, November 25 Tenn. St./Prairie View loser vs. UTC/Towson loser (11:30 a.m. PST)
Saturday, November 25 Tenn. St./Prairie View winner vs. UTC/Towson winner (11:30 a.m. PST)
Saturday, November 25 Western Kentucky vs. Ball State (4:30 p.m. PST)
Saturday, November 25 Kansas vs. Florida - ESPN2 (7:30 p.m. PST)
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