NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State men's basketball team will play 2017 NCAA Final Four team South Carolina, live on ESPN2, in the first of three games at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, Nov. 16-19, according to the tournament bracket unveiled Wednesday afternoon.
ISU and South Carolina are scheduled to open the tournament on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 10:30 a.m. CT. The Gamecocks earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where they reached the Final Four before losing to Gonzaga by four points. South Carolina finished the season 26-11 overall and 12-8 in the Southeastern Conference.
The Redbirds will then play either Boise State or UTEP on Friday, Nov. 17 in a championship bracket (on ESPN2) or consolation semifinal (on ESPNU) matchup. Boise State earned an at-large bid to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) where the Broncos advanced to the second round. Boise State went 20-12 overall and 12-6 in the Mountain West Conference last season, while UTEP went 15-17 overall and 12-6 in Conference USA. Both teams finished third in their respective leagues. The championship, third-place, fifth-place and seventh-place games will take place on Sunday, November 19.
Other schools competing in the three-day, 12-game tournament include Iowa State (NCAA Tournament qualifier), Appalachian State, Tulsa and Western Michigan. All 12 games of the 2017 Puerto Rico Tip-Off will be played at Coliseo Municipal Tomás Dones in Fajardo, Puerto Rico and televised on either ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS or ESPN3.
Thursday, Nov. 16 at Coliseo Municipal Tomás Dones
-Game 1 - Illinois State vs. South Carolina, 10:30 a.m. CT, ESPN2
-Game 2 - Boise State vs. UTEP, 1 p.m. CT, ESPNU
-Game 3 - Iowa State vs. Appalachian State, 4:30 p.m. CT, ESPNU
-Game 4 - Tulsa vs. Western Michigan, 7 p.m. CT, ESPNEWS/ESPN3 flex
Friday, Nov. 17 at Coliseo Municipal Tomás Dones
-Game 5 - Illinois State/South Carolina loser vs. Boise State/UTEP loser, 9:30 a.m. CT, ESPNU
-Game 6 - Illinois State/South Carolina winner vs. Boise State/UTEP winner, 12 p.m. CT, ESPN2
-Game 7 - Iowa State/Appalachian State loser vs. Tulsa/Western Michigan loser, 4 p.m. CT, ESPNU
-Game 8 - Iowa State/Appalachian State winner vs. Tulsa/Western Michigan winner, 6 p.m. CT, ESPNU
Sunday, Nov. 19 at Coliseo Municipal Tomás Dones
-Game 9 - Game 5 and Game 7 losers, 10:30 a.m. CT, ESPN3
-Game 10 - Game 5 and Game 7 winners, 1 p.m. CT, ESPNU
-Game 11 - Game 6 and Game 8 losers, 4 p.m. CT, ESPNU
-Game 12, Championship - Game 6 and Game 8 winners, 6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2
In addition to tickets, travel packages and discounted hotel accommodations are also available to fans through Anthony Travel, the official travel provider of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Packages include hotel accommodations, game-day transportation, an all-session pass to the games and access to an exclusive banquet reception with the players and coaches (limited availability). For more information or to book travel to the tournament, fans are encouraged to click here or call (888) 632-6951.
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