Cougars to Play in South Padre Island Classic

PROVO -- The South Padre Island Invitational, one of college basketball's elite Thanksgiving tournaments, has put together another stellar field that includes two teams which participated in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

BYU (30-6), ranked in the preseason top 25 by college basketball experts, returns three starters from last year's team. Included in the lineup are All-America guard Jimmer Fredette (22.1 ppg) and guard Jackson Emery (12.5 ppg). The guard tandem should prove to be one of the nation's best.

Texas Tech (19-16) returns five of its top six scorers and seven seniors including Mike Singletary (15 ppg), who led the Red Raiders in scoring last year. Point guard John Roberson (14.5 ppg) will also be returning.

Saint Mary's College (28-6) returns three starters off of last season's Sweet 16 appearance in the 2010 NCAA tournament. The Gaels will be led by the backcourt duo of Mickey McConnell and Matthew Dellavedova. As a junior, McConnell averaged 13.8 points per game and led the nation in three-point shooting at 51 percent.

South Florida (20-13) returns three starters from last year's surging basketball program. The Bulls will be led by the forward tandem of Augustus Gilchrist (13.4 ppg) and Jarrid Famous (10.4 ppg).

The field of eight teams includes Liberty, Chicago State, Mississippi Valley State and Georgia Southern. Each team will play four games—the first two at campus sites and the final two rounds at the South Padre Island Convention Center on beautiful South Padre Island, Texas, on Nov. 26 and 27.

Tournament passes are limited and can be purchased through the participating schools ticket offices, through the South Padre Island Convention Center Box Office (888) 774-8587 or online at www.sopadre.com.