WOMEN

The Master’s University women’s basketball team has announced its 2016-17 schedule.

“I’m looking forward to our upcoming season and I believe our schedule has a mix of competitive teams that will bring a variety of styles, skills, and strengths that will help us grow toward the postseason,” commented TMU head coach Dan Waldeck. “From our scrimmage and exhibition contests, to our late-season conference play, it was my goal to put us in the path of quality teams that will make us work for every success. We play some great NCAA and NAIA programs and we always know that our conference will prepare us to compete at the NAIA National Tournament. It’s our hope and goal to make another trip to national, by using each practice and game to improve as a team and reach our God-given potential.”

After a trio of NCAA exhibitions against CSUN (Nov. 4 in Northridge), Loyola Marymount (Nov. 8 in Los Angeles), and Claremont (Nov. 11 on Bross Court), TMU will debut in its home opener against Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) on Friday, November 18 at 5:30 p.m.

The Lady Mustangs will also take on two NCAA Division III opponents, hosting the University of La Verne on November 19 and then traveling to Thousand Oaks three days later to play Cal Lutheran.

Also highlighting TMU’s schedule are five contests against three teams ranked in the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball Coaches’ 2015-16 Postseason Top 25 Poll. On November 25, TMU, which finished ninth in last year’s season-ending poll, will host No. 10 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) at 2:00 p.m. on the first day of the Jersey Mike’s Thanksgiving Classic.

Attesting to the toughness of the always-competitive 16-game Golden State Athletic Conference schedule, the Lady Mustangs are slated to face No. 10 Vanguard (Jan. 17, Feb. 25), and No. 3 Westmont (Dec. 7, Jan. 19).

During the holidays, TMU will compete in the Westmont Holiday Classic in Santa Barbara where they will play British Columbia on December 29, followed by Southwestern College (Kan.) on the 30th.

By the numbers, TMU is slated to play 27 regular-season games (15 home, 12 away), including 16 in the GSAC, and three exhibitions to total 30 contests.

To view The Master’s University’s women’s basketball team’s 2016-17 schedule, click here.

MEN

An exciting season awaits The Master’s University men’s basketball team as its 2016-17 schedule has been announced with its home opener set for November 11 against Embry-Riddle at 8:00 p.m.

“We are excited about our schedule this year,” commented first-year TMU head coach Kelvin Starr. “We have a great balance of games. As always, the GSAC will offer some good challenges. The players are also very excited to play various NCAA programs like UCLA.”

Highlighting the new-look Mustangs’ 2016-17 campaign are eight games against four Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) opponents featured on the 2015-16 NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Postseason Top 25 Poll: No. 5 Biola (Jan. 3, Feb. 4), No. 14 Hope International (Jan. 7, Feb. 9), No. 17 Arizona Christian (Dec. 10, Feb. 11), and No. 23 William Jessup (Jan. 28, and Feb. 16). Notably, the Mustangs will also host a non-conference game against No. 9 Carroll (Mont.) on December 30 at the TMU New Year’s Eve Classic.

Early in the season, TMU will compete in a high-profile exhibition at NCAA Division I UCLA on November 1. Tip-off against the Bruins is set for 7:30 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.

The Mustangs are also slated to take on five other NCAA teams. The first opportunity to see the team in action will be on October 27 when TMU hosts NCAA Division II Azusa Pacific at 8:00 p.m. in an exhibition. Two days later, the Mustangs will travel to Cedar City, Utah, for an exhibition against Southern Utah (NCAA Division I). On November 9, the Mustangs will play another exhibition on the road at Cal State Bakersfield (NCAA Division I). About a month later, the Mustangs will play Long Beach State (NCAA Division I) in an exhibition on December 19 at The Pyramid in Long Beach. Finally, TMU will host Humboldt State (NCAA Division II) on January 9.

Notably, TMU is scheduled to appear in three tournaments during the regular season. The Mustangs christen the regular season at the 2016 West Coast Baptist Tournament in Lancaster on November 4-5 when they will face the University of Antelope Valley and host West Coast Baptist. Then, from November 11-12, the Mustangs will host the TMU Fall Classic where they will play Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) and Benedictine (Ariz.). Finally, during the holidays, TMU will also host the 2016 New Year’s Classic, battling UC Merced and Carroll (Mont.) on December 29 and 30, respectively.

By the numbers, this year’s slate consists of 27 regular-season games (15 home, 12 away), including 16 games in the GSAC, and five exhibitions to total 32 contests.

To view The Master’s University’s men’s basketball team’s 2016-17 schedule, click here.