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The University of Minnesota men’s basketball team will meet Oklahoma State in a non-conference neutral-site matchup at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. during the 2015-16 season. The game will be played on Saturday, December 12 and will mark the sixth NCAA Division I matchup at the venue, which opened two years ago.
“We set out to add a marquee opponent in December to test us right before Big Ten play,” said head coach Richard Pitino. “We believe that playing one of the top programs in the Big 12 will certainly get us ready for our conference schedule.”
December’s matchup between the Gophers and Cowboys will be the first in 29 years and the sixth in series history. Last time they met, OSU took a 77-66 victory on December 15, 1986 in Stillwater, Okla. Minnesota leads the all-time series 3-2, with all three victories coming at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
In the seventh year under head coach Travis Ford, Oklahoma State finished last season 18-14 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth, falling in the round of 64 to Oregon. The Cowboys finished in a tie for sixth place in the Big XII regular-season standings after completing their conference slate with an 8-10 record.
“Travis Ford has done an unbelievable job with Oklahoma State, year in and year out. We know it will be a very good test for us and we are eager for the challenge,” added Pitino.
Located just four hours from the Twin Cities and minutes from the Minnesota state line, the Sanford Pentagon opened in September 2013 with seating for 3,250. The Sanford Pentagon has hosted three NCAA Division I basketball games since its opening, along with a Minnesota Timberwolves preseason exhibition game and other sporting events. It is also home to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Miami Heat.
“When the Sanford Pentagon approached us about playing a game, we jumped at the opportunity because of past experiences with other teams and how much they have raved about the facility,” said Pitino. “It is run in a first-class way and something we wanted to be a part of.”
The Gophers’ full non-conference schedule will be announced later this summer.
NCAA Division I Games at the Sanford Pentagon
November 8, 2013: Wisconsin vs. St. John’s
November 18, 2014: Wichita State vs. Memphis
November 30, 2014: South Dakota State vs. Florida Gulf Coast
December 13, 2014: UNLV vs. South Dakota
November 19, 2015: Iowa State vs. Colorado
December 12, 2015: Minnesota vs. Oklahoma State
“We set out to add a marquee opponent in December to test us right before Big Ten play,” said head coach Richard Pitino. “We believe that playing one of the top programs in the Big 12 will certainly get us ready for our conference schedule.”
December’s matchup between the Gophers and Cowboys will be the first in 29 years and the sixth in series history. Last time they met, OSU took a 77-66 victory on December 15, 1986 in Stillwater, Okla. Minnesota leads the all-time series 3-2, with all three victories coming at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
In the seventh year under head coach Travis Ford, Oklahoma State finished last season 18-14 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth, falling in the round of 64 to Oregon. The Cowboys finished in a tie for sixth place in the Big XII regular-season standings after completing their conference slate with an 8-10 record.
“Travis Ford has done an unbelievable job with Oklahoma State, year in and year out. We know it will be a very good test for us and we are eager for the challenge,” added Pitino.
Located just four hours from the Twin Cities and minutes from the Minnesota state line, the Sanford Pentagon opened in September 2013 with seating for 3,250. The Sanford Pentagon has hosted three NCAA Division I basketball games since its opening, along with a Minnesota Timberwolves preseason exhibition game and other sporting events. It is also home to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Miami Heat.
“When the Sanford Pentagon approached us about playing a game, we jumped at the opportunity because of past experiences with other teams and how much they have raved about the facility,” said Pitino. “It is run in a first-class way and something we wanted to be a part of.”
The Gophers’ full non-conference schedule will be announced later this summer.
NCAA Division I Games at the Sanford Pentagon
November 8, 2013: Wisconsin vs. St. John’s
November 18, 2014: Wichita State vs. Memphis
November 30, 2014: South Dakota State vs. Florida Gulf Coast
December 13, 2014: UNLV vs. South Dakota
November 19, 2015: Iowa State vs. Colorado
December 12, 2015: Minnesota vs. Oklahoma State