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Logan • The Mountain West Conference announced Thursday it will partner with Global Sports Management and Caymax Sports LTD and sponsor a new college basketball tournament in the Cayman Islands, starting in 2017.
"The Mountain West is thrilled," said Dan Butterly, senior associate commissioner. "… With a new arena and the tremendous hospitality of the Cayman Islands, we are excited to have a [conference] team guaranteed a slot in this annual event."
"This is an historic moment," said Osbourne Bodden, the country's Minister for Sports. "... The support for the Cayman Basketball Classic from our islands will be absolutely tremendous. We welcome the opportunity to showcase our beautiful country to those fans who will follow their teams from the United States. The government is proud to support this event. We know it will be a huge boost to the economy."
Global Sports has produced 29 multi-team college basketball tournaments in the past seven years with three more coming during the 2015-16 season.
Utah State just completed its second year as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The Aggies went 18-13 overall and 11-7 in league play.