Men's and Women's Hoops Teams Announce MAC-SBC Challenge Pairings
July 01, 2025 | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – First-round pairings for the third installment of the MAC-SBC Challenge have been announced by the Mid-American and Sun Belt Conferences, with Ball State men's and women's basketball teams each receiving assignments for first-round games that take place Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.
The Ball State men, entering their fourth season under head coach Michael Lewis, host Louisiana in a home game at Worthen Arena. The Ragin' Cajuns finished 11th in the Sun Belt in 2024-25 (12-21/8-10 SBC). The Cardinals were ninth in the MAC (14-17/7-11 MAC).
The Ball State women, defending champions of the MAC under the guidance of 14th-year head coach Brady Sallee, draw a road matchup with Arkansas State, who finished second in the Sun Belt last season (21-11/15-3 SBC). The regular season and tournament-champion Cardinals head to Jonesboro, Arkansas, after finishing 27-8 overall, 16-2 in the MAC.
The MAC-SBC Challenge matches programs in each conference with similar records. Initiated prior to the 2023-24 season, the MAC-SBC Challenge includes a first-round game early in each team's schedule, then a second-date in the middle of the conference schedule.
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The Ball State men, entering their fourth season under head coach Michael Lewis, host Louisiana in a home game at Worthen Arena. The Ragin' Cajuns finished 11th in the Sun Belt in 2024-25 (12-21/8-10 SBC). The Cardinals were ninth in the MAC (14-17/7-11 MAC).
The Ball State women, defending champions of the MAC under the guidance of 14th-year head coach Brady Sallee, draw a road matchup with Arkansas State, who finished second in the Sun Belt last season (21-11/15-3 SBC). The regular season and tournament-champion Cardinals head to Jonesboro, Arkansas, after finishing 27-8 overall, 16-2 in the MAC.
The MAC-SBC Challenge matches programs in each conference with similar records. Initiated prior to the 2023-24 season, the MAC-SBC Challenge includes a first-round game early in each team's schedule, then a second-date in the middle of the conference schedule.
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