NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference has released the 2016-17 University of South Alabama men's basketball league schedule, which features an 18-game slate taking place on Saturdays and Mondays.

For the 2017-18 season, the schedule will revert back to Thursday-Saturday, with the women moving to Saturday-Monday. Tip times for all games will be decided at a later date.

"This is an exciting time for the Sun Belt Conference as we have created a membership structure that makes perfect sense with six sets of travel partners located in seven states," Sun Belt Conference commissioner Karl Benson said in a statement. "Not only does the 12-team league allow for an 18-game regular season but it will allow for a much more manageable travel schedule for our men's and women's student-athletes that will result in less missed class time and much more time back on their respective campuses rather than on airplanes and buses."

Conference play begins at home on New Year's Eve against Troy, before a trip to Georgia State (Jan. 7) and Georgia Southern (Jan. 9). The Jaguars return home for a two-game set against Texas State (Jan. 14) and Texas-Arlington (Jan. 16), then depart for contests at Little Rock (Jan. 21) and Arkansas State (Jan. 23).

The month of January concludes at home against Georgia Southern (Jan. 28) and Georgia State (Jan. 30).

South Alabama goes to Troy (Feb. 4) to start a three-game road trip, followed by clashes at Louisiana-Monroe (Feb. 11) and Louisiana-Lafayette (Feb. 13).

USA hosts Appalachian State (Feb. 18) and new league member Coastal Carolina (Feb. 20) next before concluding the month on the road at Texas-Arlington (Feb. 25) and Texas State (Feb. 27).

The regular season wraps up the first week in March at home vs. Arkansas State (March 3) and Little Rock (March 5).

New Orleans will be the host of the Sun Belt Tournament for the fourth straight year.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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2016-17 South Alabama Sun Belt Men's Basketball Schedule
Dec 31 (Sat) TROY
Jan 7 (Sat)  at Georgia State
Jan 9 (Mon)  at Georgia Southern
Jan 14 (Sat) TEXAS STATE
Jan 16 (Mon) TEXAS-ARLINGTON
Jan 21 (Sat) at Little Rock
Jan 23 (Mon) at Arkansas State
Jan 28 (Sat) GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Jan 30 (Mon) GEORGIA STATE
Feb 4 (Sat)  at Troy
Feb 11 (Sat) at Louisiana-Monroe
Feb 13 (Mon) at Louisiana-Lafayette
Feb 18 (Sat) APPALACHIAN STATE
Feb 20 (Mon) COASTAL CAROLINA
Feb 25 (Sat) at Texas-Arlington
Feb 27 (Mon) at Texas State
Mar 3 (Fri)  ARKANSAS STATE
Mar 5 (Sun)  LITTLE ROCK