Bowling Green guard Lexi Fleming, who will return as a fifth-year senior, calls out a play during the third quarter of a game against Cleveland State on November 7, 2023 at the Stroh Center. In that game Bowling Green defeated Cleveland State 89-86 to give Fred Chmiel his first career win at BGSU and his first win ever as a head coach. (Scott W. Grau | Sentinel-Tribune file)
The Mid-American Conference and Sun Belt Conference announced the first matchups in the second installment of the MAC-SBC Challenge Thursday afternoon.
The MAC-SBC Challenge is a scheduling alliance in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball and will be played during the opening week of the 2024-25 season with 12 MAC women’s basketball programs hosting 12 SBC teams, while the 12 MAC men’s basketball programs will visit 12 SBC teams.
Both the Bowling Green men and women will take on Southern Miss in the first round of games.
For the Falcons, the BGSU women’s basketball team is set to host Southern Miss at the Stroh Center on Monday, Nov. 4 as part of the first round of games.
During the 2023-24 season, the Golden Eagles posted a 20-14 record while going 10-8 in conference play and 5-9 when on the road. In last year’s inaugural MAC-SBC Challenge, Southern Miss topped Akron at home, 77-60, in the first meeting, but fell to Buffalo on the road, 62-46, in the second matchup.
“We are thrilled to take part in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge again this season,” said BGSU women’s basketball coach Fred Chmiel.
“Southern Miss is a 20-win team that made a run in the WNIT last season, and we know this game against such a quality opponent will be a great early-season opportunity for us.”
On the men’s side of the Challenge, the BGSU men’s basketball team will be traveling to face Southern Miss on Monday, Nov. 4.
The Golden Eagles are coming off a 2023-24 campaign that resulted in a 16-16 overall finish while going 9-9 within the Sun Belt. Southern Miss was strong at home, going 11-3.
During last year’s MAC-SBC Challenge, the Golden Eagles fell to Akron on the road, 72-54, during the first matchup, but topped Western Michigan at home, 86-54, in the second.
“Opening the season at Southern Miss for the MAC-SBC Challenge will be a quality test to start the year,” said BGSU men’s basketball coach Todd Simon. “We are excited to compete with the Sun Belt this season.”
The second MAC-SBC Challenge contest for each team will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, with the matchups based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January. The MAC men and Sun Belt women will host the February matchups.
Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge is guaranteed one home and one away game each season. Each MAC-SBC Challenge game will be carried on an ESPN platform.
