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The Utah men's basketball program released its nonconference schedule on Monday afternoon, highlighted by two games against SEC foes as well as instate games against Utah State at BYU.
The Utes will play both Utah State and BYU in December. The Beehive Classic clash with USU will take place on Dec. 9 at Vivint Smart Home Arena, while the BYU-Utah game will be on Dec. 16 in Provo. The Utes last played BYU during the 2015-16 season and USU during the 2010-11 season.
The Utes' nonconference schedule includes six regular-season home games as well as the annual "Night with the Running' Utes" on Oct. 17 and an exhibition game against Montana Tech on Nov. 2. The Utes schedule will also bring Missouri, Hawaii, Prairie View A&M, Eastern Washington, Northwestern State and Mississippi Valley State to the Jon M. Hunstman Center.
The Utes' first three regular-season games will take place at home against Prairie View A&M in the season opener on Nov. 10, Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 13, and Missouri on Nov. 16.
The Utes and Missouri, which hired former California coach Cuonzo Martin this offseason, will start a home-and-home series with the Utes traveling to Missouri next season. Missouri's roster features 6-foot-10 freshman forward Michael Porter Jr., projected by DraftExpress.com as the top pick in the 2018 NBA draft.
This coming season's road games for the Utes will include a trip to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indiana for a tilt with Butler on Dec. 5 as well as a pair of games in the fourth annual MGM Grand Main Event in Las Vegas. The Utes will play Ole Miss on the first day of the event (Nov. 20) and will face either Rice or UNLV on Nov. 22.
Utah was supposed to have a home game against Xavier after playing at the Musketeers last season, but that return trip to SLC has been cancelled, the Utah release said, by the Big East Conference.
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Runnin' Utes nonconference schedule
Nov. 2 • Montana Tech (exhibition)
Nov. 10 • Prairie View A&M
Nov. 13 • Mississippi Valley State
Nov. 16 • Missouri
Nov. 20 • vs. Mississippi at Las Vegas
Nov. 22 • vs. Rice or UNLV at Las Vegas
Nov. 24 • Eastern Washington
Dec. 2 • Hawaii
Dec. 5 • At Butler
Dec. 9 • vs. Utah State at Vivint Smart Home Arena
Dec. 16 • at BYU
Dec. 20 • Northwestern State