Bulldogs add neutral site matchup with Iowa State
Credit: MSU Athletics news release
by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications
The Mississippi State men’s basketball program will square off with Iowa State in a neutral site showcase matchup announced Wednesday by event organizers.
The two programs have appeared in each of the last three NCAA Tournaments and will meet on Monday, Nov. 10 at the Sanford Pentagon, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Game time and television broadcast details will be released at a later date.
State has won all three previous meetings over the Cyclones, most recently a 95-56 victory during the 2021 SEC/Big 12 Challenge as Iverson Molinar led a four-player attack in double figures with 20 points. The Bulldogs also defeated Iowa State during the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons.
“It’s a great opportunity to face a quality program at a first-class venue,” head coach Chris Jans said. “We’ve got great respect for Coach Otzelberger and their terrific staff for how accomplished and well run of a program Iowa State has become. This early season matchup will help prepare us for other early challenges and the SEC schedule.”
State’s 2025-26 non-conference slate has already started to take shape as the Bulldogs will play host to SMU on Friday, Nov. 28 as part of a Black Friday football-basketball doubleheader followed by Memphis on Saturday, Dec. 20 at Humphrey Coliseum.
The Maroon and White will be joined by Kansas State, Nebraska and New Mexico at the 2025 Hall of Fame Classic on Nov. 20-21 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
State has a return matchup with Utah at the Delta Center, home of the NBA’s Utah Jazz. The Bulldogs also are scheduled to go on the road for the 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge on either Tuesday, December 2 or Wednesday, Dec. 3.
State’s 18-game SEC docket will begin on Saturday, Jan. 3 and conclude on Saturday, March 7. Additional schedule information will be announced at a later date.
State is led by Chris Jans who is one of four coaches in SEC history to amass at least 21 victories and guide his squad to a NCAA Tournament berth during each of his first three seasons.
