SILVER CITY, N.M - Western New Mexico University's Men's Basketball Head Coach Zane Gibson has officially announced its 2021-22 game schedule.
The Mustangs will play 31 contests including three exhibition games against Division I opponents and 28 regular-season games. 16 of the contests will be conference matchups with 12 non-conference opponents, including four contests against Lone Star Conference opponents.
"We are really excited about our upcoming schedule. Finally getting to play a home game in front of our great fans will be a welcoming experience," said Gibson. "Being able to play on Drag's Court and see it full of purple and gold supporters is something the whole team is looking forward to."
The season tips off October 30th, as the Mustangs head to Division I Grand Canyon University for the first exhibition game. November 9th, the University of Texas-El Paso will host the Mustangs at the historic Don Haskins Center. Rounding out the last of the exhibition matches, WNMU will be welcomed to the Pit by in-state foes, the University of New Mexico.
The Mustangs take part in a two-game Lone Star and Rocky Mountain Conference Challenge, November 12th &13th, in Odessa, Texas, playing against Westminster and Adams State.
WNMU will then host five nonconference games at Drag's Court before the start of the conference, beginning with a two-game series against SAGU (AZ) on November 19th & 20th. Making the trip from Hobbs, New Mexico, there will be a battle of the Mustangs against the University of New Mexico on November 22nd. Continuing to play New Mexico institutions, on November 29th, University of Southwest travels to Silver City as well as on December 9th, Eastern New Mexico University comes to Drag's Court to battle against the Mustangs. Following a home state stretch, Lubbock Christian also hits the road on December 11th for another home game.
"Much of our nonconference games are within driving distance for our fans to come out and watch the Mustangs," said Gibson.
The last of the five non-conference games feature the Mustangs going north to Northwest Nazarene University for two games on December 18th and 20th and to tip-off the start of the New Year January 1st, WNMU heads to Phoenix, Arizona, playing against Park University. Playing two more LSC competitors, as the Mustangs make the journey to Cameron University December 2nd and West Texas A&M December 4th.
"Every year the Lone Star Conference is a battle. Night in and night out you must bring it or the league will humble you" emphasized Gibson.
WNMU has been chosen to be the "Lone Wolf" forcing conference travel partners to play on Tuesdays before they travel to Silver City.
LSC play gets started on January 7th, as the Mustangs host, Texas A&M University-Kingsville followed by Texas A&M International University on January 9th.The Mustangs will alternate home and away weekends in conference action, traveling to the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Oklahoma Christian University the following weekend.
The remaining road LSC contests include trips to St. Edward's University and St. Mary's University, Midwestern State University and Dallas Baptist University, and Lubbock Christian University. The game Eastern New Mexico serves as the regular-season finale on February 26th.The home conference matchups will encompass Texas A&M-Commerce and UT Tyler, Angelo State and UT Permian Basin, and West Texas A&M and home finale February 19th against Cameron University.
The Lone Star Conference Tournament action begins on March 1st with on-campus sites TBD, with the remainder of the tournament March 3rd-6th in Frisco, Texas. The South Central Regional is slated to be played March 12th-15th.
"We can't wait for the winter to roll around and get going on our 2021-22 season," concluded Gibson.
***
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) and search Western New Mexico Athletics on Facebook.
