2005-06 Texas State Schedule

Sept. 1, 2005

SAN MARCOS - A home game against Conference USA newcomer SMU as well as road contests against premiere teams in the Big 12, Southeastern and Mountain West Conferences highlights Texas State University's men's basketball schedule announced Thursday.

After an exhibition game with Division II Angelo State on Nov. 9, the Bobcats open the regular season with a two-game road trip to Utah and Utah Valley State on Nov. 18 and 19. The `Cats open at home Nov. 23 against Texas-Permian Basin.

In addition to Utah out of the Mountain West Conference, Texas State will travel to Arkansas for a Dec. 6 game and will also play at Texas for the second time in as many years on Dec. 22. The Texas game will be broadcast by Fox Sports Southwest.

"This is probably one of the tougher schedules we have faced in the six years I have been here," said Texas State coach Dennis Nutt. "Texas is ranked as high as second in some of the early preseason polls. But we have a pretty good mix of games that will let us prepare for conference play."

The SMU game highlights the home portion of the nonconference schedule. The Mustangs make the move to Conference USA this season. The Dec. 1 game marks the Bobcats' second against a C-USA school in three years. Texas State defeated Houston in Strahan Coliseum 68-59 during the 2002-03 season.

"I think the SMU game is awesome for our fans and student body," Nutt said. "We always want to create a lot of excitement and this will be a great game to do that with."

The Southland Conference slate begins Jan. 7 against Lamar and the Bobcats will have an opportunity to jump out to a quick start by playing four of their first five league games at home.

"We like the fact that we start with a home game," Nutt said. "The early half of the schedule is very favorable for us and I like that we don't have too many road games in a row. That had always seemed to be a thorn in our side."

Texas State plays back-to-back road games just twice during the year.

The Bobcats will travel for a north Louisiana road swing in late January with games at Louisiana-Monroe and Northwestern State. The `Cats will face Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin during road stand in late February. The one difficult twist to the road part of the schedule is making two separate trips to south Louisiana. The `Cats play at Southeastern Louisiana Feb. 13 then travel back to play Nicholls State on March 3.

Texas State will play double-headers against every Southland Conference school with the exception of Texas-San Antonio, Texas-Arlington and Louisiana-Monroe. The lone rivalry game with UTSA this season will be played in San Marcos on Feb. 18.