NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference announced the 2020-21 men's basketball schedule today, and the conference will utilize an 18-game conference slate.

Georgia Southern will play Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, Louisiana, ULM, South Alabama and Troy in home-and-home series. The Eagles play host to Texas State and UTA and travel to Arkansas State and Little Rock for single games. 

"We're looking forward to an 18-game schedule, and we're excited to be able to host nine Sun Belt games in Hanner Fieldhouse," said Georgia Southern coach Brian Burg. 

The conference slate will keep a primary Thursday-Saturday format with league contests played against travel partners for two-game road trips. Select game dates may be adjusted for live coverage on the ESPN family of networks.

Each team will open its conference season on Thursday, Dec. 30, and the Eagles travel to Little Rock and Arkansas State on opening weekend. Georgia Southern plays its home-and-home series with Georgia State Feb. 17 and 19, part of a stretch of three straight contests at home to close the season. 

All 12 schools will compete in the 2022 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Championship at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida, from Thursday, March 3, to Monday, March 7. Teams will be seeded 1-12, and the top-four teams will earn byes to the quarterfinals.