BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Season-opening games against four regional
rivals and an early open to the Big Sky season highlight Montana State's
2008-09 men's basketball schedule, Bobcat coach Brad Huse announced
Tuesday.
The Bobcats open 2008-09 with former league rival Nevada in
Worthington Arena on November 15, and follow that with road games at
Colorado (Nov. 18), Boise State (Nov. 24), and Oregon State (Nov. 26).
The Bobcats also play their earliest Big Sky game in history on December
6, when MSU visits Eastern Washington.
"Once again we're staring a very difficult non-conference
schedule in the face, but it should help prepare us for conference
play," Huse said. "Two of those first four teams played in the
post-season last year and the other two play in top three conferences,
so it will be a great way to test our guys."
In addition to NCAA tournament entry Boise State and College
Basketball Invitational participant Nevada, the Bobcats face
NCAA-tournament squad Washington State on December 13 in Seattle for the
Cougar Hardwood Classic. The Bobcats also host the 6th Man Club Holiday
Tournament after Christmas, with Norfolk State, Texas-Pan American and
Arkansas-Pine Bluffs coming to Bozeman on December 28-29. MSU also
travels to Southern Miss in January and participates in the ESPN
BracketBuster on February 21 to round out the non-conference schedule.
"This is a difficult schedule that has a strong regional
flavor," Huse said. "We had tremendous support last season as we led our
league in home attendance, so we're excited to bring quality opponents
to the Fieldhouse once again for our strong fan base."

2008-09 Schedule
N1 MSU-Moorhead (exhibition)
N10 Mary (exhibition)
N15 Nevada
N18 at Colorado
N24 at Boise State
N26 at Oregon State
D1 Great Falls
D6 *at Eastern Washington
D9 Cal State Fullerton
D13 Washington State at Seattle
D20 at Long Beach State
D22 at Cal State Fullerton
Bobcat 6th Man Club Holiday Classic
D28 Norfolk vs. UT-Pan American, 5 pm; MSU vs. Ark.-Pine Bluffs,
7:30 pm
D29 Consolation, 5 pm; Championships, 7:30 pm
J3 *at Montana (TV1)
J8 *Sacramento State
J10 *NAU
J15 *at Weber State
J17 *at Idaho State
J22 *Northern Colorado
J24 at Southern Mississippi
J29 *Eastern Washington
F1 *Portland State (TV2)
F7 *Montana (TV1)
F12 *at NAU
F14 *at Sac State
F19 *Idaho State
F21 at Bracketbuster
F25 *at Portland State
M1 *at Northern Colo. (TV2)
M3 *Weber State
M7 Big Sky Tourney 1st Round
M10 Big Sky Tourney Semifinals
M11 Big Sky Championship
*-Big Sky game
Times are Mountain and subject to change TV1-Montana's News Network;
TV2-Altitude