ST. LOUIS – For the third consecutive year, CBS Sports Network will televise a package of Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball games, including the State Farm MVC Tournament semifinals as well as eight regular-season contests, Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today.
CBS Sports will continue to televise the title game of Arch Madness for a 13th consecutive year on March 4, 2018.
"CBS Sports continues to be a tremendously important partner for our men's basketball programs and the league as a whole," said Elgin, who is in his 30th year with the Conference and the longest-tenured commissioner in the 111-year history of The Valley.
"Regular-season coverage combined with title-game distribution from the State Farm MVC Tournament speaks volumes for the respect shown by CBS. We value the association we have with the good people at CBS and look forward to this year and future seasons in partnership," Elgin added.
The 2017-18 regular-season package of games on CBS Sports Network highlights the Northern Iowa program, which has made trips to the NCAA Tournament Second Round two of the last three seasons.
Of the six pre-determined productions, UNI will appear in three games, while Missouri State, Illinois State and Southern Illinois are slated for two appearances each.
The CBS Sports Network package, which features contests on Saturdays and select week nights, begins on Friday, Dec. 22, as UNI plays host to non-conference foe Xavier in an 8 p.m. Central telecast.
The men's basketball regular-season package in January showcases UNI at Missouri State (Jan. 4) and Illinois State at Southern Illinois (Jan. 13).
ESPN and CBS Sports Network will utilize a Wildcard Selection process to determine Sunday, Jan. 7 game clearances for Missouri State at Illinois State or Loyola at UNI -- 1 p.m. Central on CBSSN or 3 p.m. Central on ESPNU.
In the month of February, telecasts include Missouri State at Loyola (Feb. 3), Southern Illinois at Illinois State (Feb. 8) and UNI at new league member Valparaiso (Feb. 20).
The February lineup concludes on Saturday, Feb. 24, when ESPN and CBS Sports Network will utilize the Wildcard Selection process to choose from five games -- Missouri State at UNI, Illinois at Loyola, Southern Illinois at Evansville, Valparaiso at Drake or Indiana State at Bradley.
All five tilts will be considered for clearance on ESPN2 at 1 p.m. Central.
Only four games -- all but SIU at Evansville -- will be evaluated for airing at 3 p.m. Central on CBS Sports Network. Due to hockey at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., the SIU-UE game cannot tip later than 1 p.m. Central.
The wildcard games selected to air on ESPN and CBS Sports Network will be announced on Friday, Feb. 2.
CBS Sports' coverage of the 2018 State Farm MVC Men's Basketball Championship -- the league's 28th consecutive tournament in St. Louis -- will include the semifinal games on March 3 on CBS Sports Network. The title contest on March 4 will air at 1 p.m. Central on CBS.
CBS Sports has carried every Arch Madness finale since 2006 and is slated to carry the title game from the State Farm MVC Men's Basketball Tournament through 2020.
There will also be additional non-conference exposure through Evansville's participation in the Cancun Challenge in November.
The Purple Aces will meet Fresno State in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Central on Nov. 21, at Hard Rock Riviera Maya.
Should Evansville defeat Fresno State, it will play the winner of George Mason-Louisiana Tech in the finals at 7:30 p.m. Central on Nov. 22. UE would play the loser of that game in the consolation finals at 5 p.m. Central on Nov. 22.
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