Men’s Basketball Announces 2019-20 Schedule

Second-year Texas Southern head men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones and staff announced its complete 31-game schedule which includes its first NCAA Division I home opponent since 2014, 11 true road games and an 18-game SWAC slate.

“We are extremely excited about how our schedule shaped up this year,” said Jones. “Our staff put together a non-conference schedule that will challenge our basketball program and help prepare us as we move into conference play.”
During the 2018-19 season, the Tigers played the No. 1 toughest non-conference schedule in the country (kenpom.com), while going on to set the NCAA Division I school-record for total wins and wins over Baylor, Oregon, and Texas A&M. This year’s schedule is just as difficult with nine teams ranked 116 or higher, including No. 2 Gonzaga.
 
Texas Southern’s non-conference schedule tips off on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at San Diego State. The contest kicks off a six-game road trip which has the Tigers traveling to Wichita State, South Dakota, Arkansas, Northern Kentucky and Montana.

The team’s home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 30 as the Tigers will host Lamar University. This marks the first time since 2014 TSU will host a Division I team as a non-conference opponent.
 
The month of December is a series of rematches from last season as TSU will head to Gonzaga (Dec. 4) followed by its final non-conference home contest versus Concordia on Dec. 7. On Dec. 18, the team heads to Nevada as it’ll mark the return to familiar grounds for head coach Johnny Jones and two staff members. Three days later on Dec. 21, TSU returns to the University of Oregon before closing out the non-conference slate at Arizona State (Dec. 28) and Texas A&M (Dec. 30).

The Tigers kick off league play at home on Saturday, Jan. 4 against Southern followed by Alcorn State on Monday, Jan. 6. On Jan. 11, TSU will close out its three-game homestand by hosting SWAC rival Prairie View A&M inside the H&PE Arena.
TSU hits the road for the first time in league play on Saturday, Jan. 18 with a trip to Jackson, Miss. to Jackson State followed by Grambling State on Monday, Jan. 20. The Tigers return back to campus on Saturday, Jan. 25 to host Mississippi Valley State in addition to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Jan. 27. A trip to the state of Alabama opens the month of February as TSU is at Alabama A&M (Feb. 1) and Alabama State (Feb. 3).

Round two of SWAC play begins on the road as TSU travels to Prairie View A&M on Saturday, Feb. 8. Jackson State (Feb. 15) and Grambling State (Feb. 17) will make the trek to the H&PE Arena to face TSU the next weekend  before the team departs to face Mississippi Valley State (Feb. 22) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Feb. 24). TSU’s final regular season home games will take place on Saturday, Feb. 29 and Monday, March 2 as Alabama A&M will face TSU first followed by a nationally televised ESPNU contest against Alabama State at 8 p.m.

TSU will conclude the regular season on the road as they’ll head to Baton Rouge, La. to face Southern on Thursday, March 5 followed by Alcorn State on Saturday, March 7.

“We know how competitive league play is and the level of coaching and players that you will see every game,” added Jones. “This is a league that you have to bring your “A” game and anything less than that can get you beat. Our players and staff have tremendous respect for our conference opponents and look forward to the challenge this upcoming year.”