​Indiana State will open its 2026-27 Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball schedule with a Tuesday, Dec. 15 matchup with Illinois-Chicago in the Windy City.The MVC released its 2026-27 men’s basketball conference slate Thursday morning, which features a 20-game schedule for league members such as Indiana State.ISU will host 16 regular-season contests, both nonconference and MVC games, in Hulman Center, beginning with the 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 exhibition game against Rose-Hulman. The conference home schedule features Murray State (Dec. 19), Drake (Dec. 29), Northern Iowa (Jan. 9), Bradley (Jan. 12), Southern Illinois (Jan. 21), Evansville (Jan. 30), Illinois State (Feb. 6), Valparaiso (Feb. 13), Belmont (Feb. 15), and UIC (Feb. 21).The release of the Missouri Valley schedule completes ISU’s season slate. ISU earlier released its nonconference schedule, which includes home contests against Charlotte (Nov. 2), Milwaukee (Nov. 11), Earlham (Nov. 14), IU Columbus (Nov. 28), SIUE (Dec. 2), and Southern Indiana (Dec. 6). Game times and television dates will be announced in the coming weeks, according to an ISU sports information release.Coach Matthew Graves has a rebuilt roster following the Sycamores’ 2025-26 season, when the team posted records of 11-21 overall and 4-16 in the Valley.This season, Sycamores will play two open exhibitions at Butler 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and the Rose-Hulman game Oct. 24 in Hulman Center.After the regular-season home opener against Charlotte, play at Ball State on Nov. 6, followed by the home games vs. Milwaukee (Nov. 11) and Earlham (Nov. 14). The Sycamores then play at the eight-team 2026 Paradise Jam on Nov. 20-23 in the Virgin Islands, opening Nov. 20 vs. Stephen F. Austin.Following that tourney, ISU has its longest home stretch of the season with Hulman Center games against IU Columbus (Nov. 28), SIUE (Dec. 2) and Southern Indiana (Dec. 6).ISU then plays Dec. 12 at Oregon, followed by the Missouri Valley opener Dec. 15 at UIC. ISU returns home to host Murray State in its MVC home opener Dec. 19, before a road trip to vaunted nonconference foe Kansas on Dec. 22 in historic Allen Fieldhouse.After taking a brief holiday break, the Sycamores return to Hulman Center on Dec. 29 to host Drake, with all MVC games ahead. ISU opens the new year with a road swing to Illinois State (Jan. 2) and Evansville (Jan. 5), followed by home games vs. Northern Iowa (Jan. 9) and Bradley (Jan. 12). The Sycamores will have their first Valley rematch of the season Jan. 16 at Murray State before continuing on the road at Belmont (Jan. 18).The Sycamores sandwich home games against Southern Illinois (Jan. 21) and Evansville (Jan. 30) around a road trip to Valparaiso (Jan. 27) before looking ahead to the final month of the regular season.ISU visits Southern Illinois on Feb. 3 before hosting Illinois State the following Saturday, Feb. 6. ISU plays Feb. 9 at Northern Iowa, then plays home games vs. Valparais