Silver City, NM- Monday morning, the LSC announced the 2020-2021 Men's and Women's Basketball schedule, however Western New Mexico University was not on it. Western New Mexico University Athletics and Director of Athletics Scott Noble, has unfortunately announced the Mustangs basketball teams will opt out of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Basketball schedule for the 2020-21 season and play an independent schedule.
 
Due to the New Mexico state mandate and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham guidelines for college athletics, the decision to opt out of the LSC scheduling was forced.
 
Director of Athletics Scott Noble address of the opt-out:

"I applaud the student athletes of New Mexico for coming together with one voice showing competitive solidarity in their letter to our governor. It is my commitment to our student athletes that they be given the opportunity to practice and compete in a safe, clean, and regulated environment.

Having said that, New Mexico's Covid-19 Collegiate Sport guidelines have left us no choice but to opt out of the Lone Star Conference basketball schedule, which includes the postseason tournament. This has been a devastating blow to our student athletes, our department, and many of our alumni. I can tell you that we are working hard to meet the standards set by the State so that our Mustangs can compete.

While we forge through this, we will now schedule Lone Star opponents as an independent schedule. This will cause all scheduled games to be played on the road, but we would play games, nevertheless. The hope is to begin play in December and compete through February. We will continue to follow State and NCAA guidelines with testing, social distancing, masking, and practice protocols; and with any luck, we will be playing basketball and representing Western New Mexico University all across the state of Texas."

The independent schedule will consist of mostly LSC schools that will have a bye week due to WNMU and Eastern New Mexico University opting out. By scheduling LSC schools, WNMU and every school in the conference will be following the same protocols. Though WNMU has opted out of the LSC, WNMU can still make the NCAA tournament, competing for a national championship.
 
WNMU Athletics wants to credit our student athletes for doing the right things and continuing to persevere through all the unknown and uncertainty.

The WNMU Men's Women's and Administration staff is working tirelessly to schedule opponents. The schedules will be announced in the near future with the expectation of the Mustangs looking to tip-off their season in mid-to-early December!
 
  Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (Twitter & Instagram).