BYU announces 2014-15 nonconference schedule

PROVO, Utah – BYU men’s basketball coach Dave Rose today announced the 2014-15 nonconference schedule, which includes the Maui Invitational, three games against in-state foes and home games with 2014 NCAA Tournament participants Stanford and UMass.

The nonconference schedule includes seven home games, two road games, three games in Maui and one game at EnergySolutions Arena.

The Cougars open the regular season in the Marriott Center with Long Beach State on Friday, Nov. 14. BYU opened the 2008-09 season with a 75-65 home win over the 49ers.

After hosting Arkansas-Little Rock on Tuesday, Nov. 18, and Southern Virginia on Wednesday, Nov. 19, the Cougars will head to Hawai`i for three games in the Maui Invitational from Nov. 24-26. The 2014 field includes Arizona, Kansas State, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Purdue, San Diego State and host Chaminade. Five teams in the 2014 Maui Invitational played in the NCAA tournament last season, including Arizona, BYU, Kansas State, Pittsburgh and San Diego State. Matchups will be announced at a later date.

BYU will close out the month of November with a home game against another NCAA tournament team from last season in Eastern Kentucky, the 2014 Ohio Valley tournament champions. The Colonels come to Provo on Saturday, Nov. 29. The Cougars open December at Utah State on the 2nd, a series BYU has controlled as of late, winning five of the last seven meetings.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, the Cougars will play Hawai`i at EnergySolutions Arena. The last time BYU faced the Warriors was in the same venue on Dec. 4, 2010. The Cougars won 78-57 as then-freshman Kyle Collinsworth scored eight points and added two rebounds and three assists.

BYU will play three of its remaining four nonconference games at home, beginning with rival Utah on Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the Marriott Center. The Cougars will be looking to avenge last season’s loss and regain control of the series. BYU has won 11 of the last 13 meetings with the Utes.

The Cougars play their final nonconference road game at Weber State on Saturday, Dec. 13. BYU defeated the Wildcats 81-72 in the 2013-14 season opener and has won the last 11 games in the series.

Stanford and UMass come to Provo on Dec. 20 and 23, respectively, to close out BYU’s nonconference schedule. Both games will be rematches from last season as the Cougars played the Cardinal and Minutemen on the road in 2013-14. BYU defeated Stanford 112-103 while falling to UMass 105-96. 

The preseason will open with the annual Cougar Tipoff on Wednesday, Oct. 29, and continues with exhibitions on back-to-back Saturdays, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8. Opponents will be announced at a later date.

All game times, television plans and the 2014-15 West Coast Conference schedule will be announced at a later date. WCC play is scheduled to begin on Dec. 27.