*** Information provided by the South Dakota State University Athletic Department ***

The South Dakota State University men's basketball team will play non-conference home games the first three Saturdays in December as a portion of the Jackrabbits' 2016-17 schedule was announced Thursday.

"We wanted to create an opportunity for our great fans and students to be able to watch us play in Frost Arena leading into conference play," first-year Jackrabbit head coach T.J. Otzelberger said. "I think having three Saturday home games in December gives our fans that opportunity. I am looking forward to hearing our fans create a raucous environment against three quality opponents."

The defending Summit League champions open the month with a Dec. 3 matchup against UMKC, continuing a series between former league rivals. SDSU leads the all-time series, 12-5.

On Dec. 10, SDSU will welcome Idaho to Frost Arena to complete a home-and-home series with the Vandals. The Jackrabbits and Idaho have met six previous times with each squad winning three times, including splitting a home-and-home series during the 2014-15 season. The two squads also are scheduled to play Nov. 20 in Moscow, Idaho.

Rounding out the Saturday slate of December home games is a Dec. 17 contest with Murray State (Ky.). The meeting with the Racers completes a home-and-home agreement that began with an ESPN BracketBusters matchup during the 2012-13 season, which Murray State won 73-62 on its home court.

Game times for all three contests will be announced at a later date, along with other segments of the Jackrabbits' schedule.

"It is our goal to bring the very best talent to Brookings and put a fast-paced, exciting product on the floor. Hopefully this will create a great fan experience and continue the tradition of having an unbelievable home-court advantage and atmosphere inside of Frost Arena," Otzelberger said.

SDSU enters the 2016-17 season with the third-longest home-court winning streak in Division I men's basketball at 29 games. The Jackrabbits completed the 2015-16 season with a 26-8 overall record and earned a share of the Summit League regular season title with a 12-4 mark in league play. SDSU went on to win the Summit League postseason tournament championship to reach the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five seasons.

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