CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois men’s basketball head coach Scott Nagy unveiled his team’s 2024-25 non-conference schedule on Wednesday. For season ticket information call 877-SALUKIS.
The Salukis will play 11 games before the new year out of conference highlighted by road games at Florida and Oklahoma State as well as a trio of games at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida over the Thanksgiving Holiday.
“The most difficult thing we do every year is building our non-conference schedule, Nagy said. “This year’s schedule is balanced, with some very tough road games as well as four neutral court games. We also have four home games that will be very challenging. We think this schedule will prepare us for conference play.”
The Salukis will play an exhibition game on October 29 against North Park University before officially opening the season in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on November 4 at the Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase against College of Charleston. The event will take place at the iconic Sanford Pentagon and will tip at 11 a.m. CT.
SIU will return home for its first official game inside Banterra Center when the team plays host to Missouri S&T on November 8.
Southern Illinois wraps up a three-game series with Oklahoma State on November 14 in Stillwater. SIU is 6-2 overall against Oklahoma State, winning the last three meetings with OSU.
SIU won an NIT game in 2008 in Carbondale before agreeing to a 2-for-1 contract with the Cowboys prior to the 2022 season. SIU knocked off OSU on the road 61-60 in 2022 before defeating the Cowboys 70-68 last season inside Banterra Center in front of a boisterous national television crowd.
North Dakota State will travel to Carbondale on November 18 before the Salukis make their way to the Sunshine State for a week.
The Salukis open their stay in Florida with the first-ever meeting between the Salukis and Gators in Gainesville. Florida is coming off a 24-12 season and an NCAA Tournament appearance a year ago.
SIU will play three teams yet to be announced officially in the Gulf Coast Showcase November 25-27 at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida. More information on the tournament can be found by clicking HERE.
Upon their return to Illinois, the Salukis will play a home Missouri Valley Conference game on December 3 before hosting Southern Indiana on December 7.
SIU will travel to Austin Peay on December 14 before closing its nonconference slate on December 21 against Big South member High Point, which finished last season 27-9 overall en route to a postseason appearance.
SIU Nonconference Schedule
10/29 vs North Park (Ex.)
11/4 vs College of Charleston – Sioux Falls, S.D.
11/8 vs Missouri S&T
11/14 at Oklahoma State
11/18 vs North Dakota State
11/22 at Florida
11/25-11/27 at Gulf Coast Showcase – Estero, Fla.
12/7 vs Southern Indiana
12/14 at Austin Peay
12/21 vs High Point
