Eagles Set to Play in Men’s Basketball Cancun Challenge
7/22/2020 2:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Georgia Southern plays three contests in the eight-team tournament.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Georgia Southern men's basketball team is set to compete in the 13th annual Cancun Challenge, and tournament officials released the field and the schedule for the Thanksgiving week event today.
The Eagles are in the Mayan Division along with Bucknell, ETSU and Rider in the eight-team event, which will be contested on campus sites before moving to Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Florida. Illinois State, Purdue, Clemson and Mississippi State are in the Riviera Division. Georgia Southern is in the field for the second time after competing in 2013.
GS is slated to travel to Illinois State Friday, Nov. 20, before meeting Rider Tuesday, Nov. 24, in Florida. The Eagles take on either Bucknell or ETSU in their final contest of the tournament, Wednesday, Nov. 25.
"This is a premier multiple-team event with quality opponents," said Georgia Southern coach Brian Burg. "This will be a great experience for our program."
All Riviera Division games played in Florida will be televised live on CBS Sports Network. All Mayan Division games will be streamed on FloHoops.
Details on tickets, hotels and fan packages are still to come. Fans are asked to refrain from booking lodging until team hotel and other amenities are announced. The Cancun Challenge will return to the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in 2021.
The Eagles own a 2-1 all-time record against Illinois State and have won the last two meetings, including a 64-61 decision in Normal, Illinois, in 2005. GS won its only meeting against Rider 94-72 back in the 1973-74 season. The Eagles are 0-3 vs. Bucknell with the last meeting coming in 1999, and GS is 18-14 against ETSU, its formal Southern Conference rival. The Bucs have won the last two contests in that series in 2017 and 2018.
Tournament Schedule
Campus Games
Tuesday, Nov. 17
ETSU @ Mississippi State, TBA
Friday, Nov. 20
Bucknell @ Clemson, TBA
Rider @ Purdue, TBA
Georgia Southern @ Illinois State, TBA
Florida Games
Tuesday, Nov. 24
MAYAN DIVISION
Bucknell vs. ETSU @ Noon ET (FloHoops)
Rider vs. Georgia Southern @ 3 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
RIVIERA DIVISION
Illinois State vs. Purdue @ 6 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Clemson vs. Mississippi State @ 8:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Wednesday, Nov. 25
MAYAN DIVISION
Bucknell/ETSU loser vs. Rider/Georgia Southern loser @ Noon ET (FloHoops)
Bucknell/ETSU winner vs. Rider/Georgia Southern winner @ 3 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
RIVIERA DIVISION
Illinois State/Purdue loser vs. Clemson/Mississippi State loser @ 6 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Illinois State/Purdue winner vs. Clemson/Mississippi State winner @ 8:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
The Eagles are in the Mayan Division along with Bucknell, ETSU and Rider in the eight-team event, which will be contested on campus sites before moving to Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Florida. Illinois State, Purdue, Clemson and Mississippi State are in the Riviera Division. Georgia Southern is in the field for the second time after competing in 2013.
GS is slated to travel to Illinois State Friday, Nov. 20, before meeting Rider Tuesday, Nov. 24, in Florida. The Eagles take on either Bucknell or ETSU in their final contest of the tournament, Wednesday, Nov. 25.
"This is a premier multiple-team event with quality opponents," said Georgia Southern coach Brian Burg. "This will be a great experience for our program."
All Riviera Division games played in Florida will be televised live on CBS Sports Network. All Mayan Division games will be streamed on FloHoops.
Details on tickets, hotels and fan packages are still to come. Fans are asked to refrain from booking lodging until team hotel and other amenities are announced. The Cancun Challenge will return to the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in 2021.
The Eagles own a 2-1 all-time record against Illinois State and have won the last two meetings, including a 64-61 decision in Normal, Illinois, in 2005. GS won its only meeting against Rider 94-72 back in the 1973-74 season. The Eagles are 0-3 vs. Bucknell with the last meeting coming in 1999, and GS is 18-14 against ETSU, its formal Southern Conference rival. The Bucs have won the last two contests in that series in 2017 and 2018.
Tournament Schedule
Campus Games
Tuesday, Nov. 17
ETSU @ Mississippi State, TBA
Friday, Nov. 20
Bucknell @ Clemson, TBA
Rider @ Purdue, TBA
Georgia Southern @ Illinois State, TBA
Florida Games
Tuesday, Nov. 24
MAYAN DIVISION
Bucknell vs. ETSU @ Noon ET (FloHoops)
Rider vs. Georgia Southern @ 3 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
RIVIERA DIVISION
Illinois State vs. Purdue @ 6 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Clemson vs. Mississippi State @ 8:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Wednesday, Nov. 25
MAYAN DIVISION
Bucknell/ETSU loser vs. Rider/Georgia Southern loser @ Noon ET (FloHoops)
Bucknell/ETSU winner vs. Rider/Georgia Southern winner @ 3 p.m. ET (FloHoops)
RIVIERA DIVISION
Illinois State/Purdue loser vs. Clemson/Mississippi State loser @ 6 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Illinois State/Purdue winner vs. Clemson/Mississippi State winner @ 8:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
The GATA Zone - Air Rifle
Thursday, February 19
Walk and Talk: J.I. Clements Stadium
Friday, February 13
2026 Baseball Pre Season Check in
Thursday, February 12
Georgia Southern Football: 2026 State of the Program
Thursday, February 12
