JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team released its eagerly-awaited 2020-21 schedule Thursday morning. Despite scheduling challenges presented by COVID-19, the slate features 27 regular-season games, seven nonconference games and 11 home games at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
"It's been difficult putting a schedule together," head coach Ray Harper said. "The schedule got turned upside down when the start date was pushed back, and we lost nine games when that happened. We were able to put together a good schedule leading to conference play that's really going to challenge us, and that's what we were looking for."
 
Among those challenging games, Jacksonville State is set to visit Alabama to open the season, will play a three-game tournament in Mobile, Alabama late November and will travel to Miami for a two-game set against Florida International in early December.  
 
"We looked at a lot of different options and tried to piece it together," Harper said. "We had a lot of games moved to next year, but we're going to play some really good teams, including South Alabama and Florida Atlantic right after Thanksgiving. We'll have a stretch where we play four games in six days, and another two games four days later, so we're going to have to be ready. And you don't get any scrimmages or exhibitions this year, so it's going to be tough."
 
Announced Wednesday, the Gamecocks travel to Tuscaloosa's Coleman Coliseum to open the season against the Crimson Tide. Game time for the Nov. 25 matchup is yet to be announced. This game was originally schedule for Nov. 10 before the start of the college basketball season was delayed.
 
Jax State is set to play a four-team tournament at South Alabama following the Thanksgiving holiday. Nov. 27, 28 and 29. While in Mobile, JSU will tangle with Florida Atlantic, South Alabama and the University of Mobile, respectively.
 
Like the football Gamecocks, basketball is scheduled to visit Florida International in Miami for a pair of games in the Sunshine State – both against the Panthers. JSU and FIU meet Friday, Dec. 4, rest Saturday and meet again Sunday, Dec. 6 at Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
Deemed "flex games" this season, Jacksonville State and travel partner Tennessee Tech are set to meet in mid-December for their OVC dates. The Gamecocks go to Cookeville, Tennessee on Dec. 13, while the Golden Eagles will serve as JSU's home opener on Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Two days later, Jax State hosts Division II foe Georgia Southwestern on Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. for the lone nonconference home game of the year.
 
Following a longer-than-usual holiday break, the OVC schedule goes full-swing beginning Dec. 30 when the Gamecocks host UT Martin at 7:30 p.m. A quick turnaround sends Jax State to Edwardsville, Illinois to meet the Panthers on Jan. 2.
 
Jax State's first full conference road trip comes the following weekend with a trek to Kentucky. January 7 sees the Gamecocks visit Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State on Jan. 9.
 
Pete Mathews Coliseum hosts the Nashville schools a week later. Tennessee Sate comes to Jacksonville on Jan. 14 for a 7:30 p.m. matchup, and Belmont visits for a Jan. 16 contest set for 4 p.m.
 
The Gamecocks hit the road Jan. 21 to meet up with Murray State. The Thursday matchup is the first trip to the CFSB Center for Jax State since the 2017-18 season. Similarly, Harper's squad goes to Austin Peay's Winfield Dunn Center on Jan. 23 for the first time in three years.
 
Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky come to The Pete for the final weekend in January. The Eagles visit Jan. 28 for a 7:30 p.m. tip and EKU is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start Jan. 30.
 
A lengthy road trip faces the Gamecocks the first week of February. Jax State goes to UT Martin on Feb. 4 before making the long drive to Cape Girardeau for a Feb. 6 game at Southeast Missouri.
 
The two Illinois programs visit Jacksonville the following week. Eastern Illinois comes to The Pete on Feb. 11 for a 7:30 p.m. Thursday date, and SIUE wraps up a long road trip with a 4 p.m. game on Feb. 13.
 
Jacksonville State's final conference road trip of the year comes with a visit to Music City. The Gamecocks meet Belmont on Feb. 18 and end the trip to the Volunteer State with a Feb. 20 matchup at Tennessee State.
 
The Gamecocks wrap up the regular season at home with a pair of games against Murray State and Austin Peay. The Racers are set to visit Pete Mathews Coliseum on Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. and the Govs come to town Feb. 27 for a 4 p.m. tip.
 
The Ohio Valley Conference Championships are scheduled for March 3-6 at Evansville's Ford Center.
 
For more information on the JSU men's basketball team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSUGamecocksMBB) and Instagram (@JSUGamecocksMBB). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks) and Instagram (@JSUGamecocks).