Troy University Athletics
Initial 2024-25 MAC-SBC Challenge Matchups Announced
6/27/2024 12:00:00 PM | Basketball (M), Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – The MAC-SBC Challenge returns to tip-off the men's and women's basketball season on Monday, November 4. On Thursday afternoon, the Sun Belt Conference announced that men's basketball hosts Toledo in Trojan Arena while women's basketball heads north to face Buffalo.
On the men's side, Troy will host Toledo in a first-ever matchup, who is coming off its fourth consecutive regular season championship after posting a 14-4 record against MAC opponents. Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Scott Cross, the Trojans have won 20 or more games and ten or more conference games in each of the last three seasons. Troy is returning 12 players from its 2023-24 team that won 20 games and posted a 13-5 conference record, including the reigning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in Myles Rigsby and the Sun Belt Sixth Man of the Year in Tayton Conerway.
"We're excited to continue to take part in the MAC-SBC Challenge this season and look forward to taking on teams from one of the premier group of five conferences," Cross said. "Opening our season against the defending regular season champions will be a great opportunity to show everyone what our team is capable of."
Troy went 1-1 in the MAC-SBC Challenge last season, falling on the road against Ohio and defeating Kent State at home. Overall, the men's Sun Belt teams went 14-9 over the two-game series.
Meanwhile, the women's basketball team travels to western New York for the first matchup against Buffalo since 1997. Buffalo finished at 19-14, 10-8 MAC, and advanced to the MAC Championship game with wins over Bowling Green and Toledo – fell 78-60 against Kent State. Their run in the league tournament sent them to the WNIT, where they exited in the first round to Monmouth. Overall, the SBC women's teams prevailed in 2023-24 for the MAC-SBC Challenge, going 14-10 in the two-game series.
"Playing Buffalo in the MAC challenge will be a new challenge that we are excited to accept," head women's basketball coach Chanda Rigby said. "Buffalo has been a top team in their conference for several years. Our goal is to begin our season with a win, so, for now, it's all about being ready and prepared to beat Buffalo."
Women's basketball split the MAC-SBC Challenge last season, suffering an 86-71 loss to Ball State in the season opener before defeating Bowling Green 88-78 in Ohio. The program is fresh off a historic run in the WNIT Tournament, which saw the first-ever postseason victory in history and a Fab 4 appearance. Troy also led the nation in rebounding en route to finishing as the No. 2 seed in the SBC with a 22-12, 15-3 SBC record.
On the men's side, Troy will host Toledo in a first-ever matchup, who is coming off its fourth consecutive regular season championship after posting a 14-4 record against MAC opponents. Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Scott Cross, the Trojans have won 20 or more games and ten or more conference games in each of the last three seasons. Troy is returning 12 players from its 2023-24 team that won 20 games and posted a 13-5 conference record, including the reigning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in Myles Rigsby and the Sun Belt Sixth Man of the Year in Tayton Conerway.
"We're excited to continue to take part in the MAC-SBC Challenge this season and look forward to taking on teams from one of the premier group of five conferences," Cross said. "Opening our season against the defending regular season champions will be a great opportunity to show everyone what our team is capable of."
Troy went 1-1 in the MAC-SBC Challenge last season, falling on the road against Ohio and defeating Kent State at home. Overall, the men's Sun Belt teams went 14-9 over the two-game series.
Meanwhile, the women's basketball team travels to western New York for the first matchup against Buffalo since 1997. Buffalo finished at 19-14, 10-8 MAC, and advanced to the MAC Championship game with wins over Bowling Green and Toledo – fell 78-60 against Kent State. Their run in the league tournament sent them to the WNIT, where they exited in the first round to Monmouth. Overall, the SBC women's teams prevailed in 2023-24 for the MAC-SBC Challenge, going 14-10 in the two-game series.
"Playing Buffalo in the MAC challenge will be a new challenge that we are excited to accept," head women's basketball coach Chanda Rigby said. "Buffalo has been a top team in their conference for several years. Our goal is to begin our season with a win, so, for now, it's all about being ready and prepared to beat Buffalo."
Women's basketball split the MAC-SBC Challenge last season, suffering an 86-71 loss to Ball State in the season opener before defeating Bowling Green 88-78 in Ohio. The program is fresh off a historic run in the WNIT Tournament, which saw the first-ever postseason victory in history and a Fab 4 appearance. Troy also led the nation in rebounding en route to finishing as the No. 2 seed in the SBC with a 22-12, 15-3 SBC record.
Players Mentioned
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