CEDAR CITY, Utah - Head Coach Nick Robinson and the SUU men's basketball program has announced its schedule for the upcoming 2015-16 season.

The Thunderbirds will kick off their regular season slate in Salt Lake City with a matchup against the Utah Utes, who are coming off a run last season to the Sweet 16. For their second game of the season, the T-Birds will be in Las Vegas for a rematch with the UNLV Rebels.

SUU will host its first home game of the season on November 21, when they will host the UT-San Antonio Road Runners. SUU will host three other non-conference opponents at home, as Cal State Fullerton, La Verne College and Bristol University will all make trips to the Centrum Arena.

The Thunderbirds will also embark on a three game road trip before Christmas, and will take on St. Mary's, IUPUI and Butler.

Robinson said the non-conference opponents they have lined up will provide a good measuring stick for the team as they become more experienced.

“We have a difficult Big Sky Conference schedule, so I'm really excited about the opponents that we have in our non-conference schedule,” he said. “I really feel like playing against teams that have been in the postseason recently will help to prepare us for our conference season.”

Big Sky Conference play will begin for the Thunderbirds on December 31 at home as the Montana State Bobcats will travel to Cedar City, and their opening Big Sky homestand will continue with games against the Montana Grizzlies and the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.

This year's Big Sky Conference Tournament will be played in Reno, Nevada, and in a change of format all members of the conference will participate in the event, with a bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

“We're really excited about the Big Sky Conference Tournament being in Reno,” Robinson said about the changes. “All 12 teams will have an opportunity to participate. Seeding still plays an important role in our conference tournament, but to have a pre-determined site I think is really going to help raise the level of our league and bring a little bit more notoriety to the Big Sky Conference.”

Season tickets can be purchased now at tbirdtickets.com.

2015-16 SUU Men's Basketball Schedule

November 13     @ Utah

November 18     @ UNLV

November 21     UT-San Antonio

November 24     Cal State Fullerton

November 28     @ Eastern Kentucky

December 3       La Verne

December 5       @ Utah Valley

December 12     Bristol University

December 15     @ St. Mary's

December 19     @ IUPUI

December 22     @ Butler

December 31     Montana State *

January 2           Montana *

January 9           Northern Arizona *

January 14         @ Eastern Washington *

January 16         @ Idaho *

January 21         Northern Colorado *

January 23         North Dakota *

January 28         @ Idaho State *

January 30         @ Weber State *

February 4          Idaho *

February 6          Eastern Washington *

February 11        @ Montana *

February 13        @ Montana State *

February 18        Weber State *

February 20        Idaho State *

February 27        @ Northern Arizona *

March 3              @ Sacramento State *

March 5              @ Portland State *

March 7              Big Sky Tournament