VERMILLION, S.D.—Six home games, along with trips to Nebraska and San Jose State, highlight the men's basketball nonconference schedule announced Thursday by head coach Todd Lee.
 
South Dakota will face foes from the Big Ten, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, Big Sky, Ohio Valley, ASUN and SWAC in preparation for a two-month Summit League round robin.
 
"It is a very balanced and challenging nonconference schedule," said Lee. "Playing the Air Force Academy on Veteran's Day, at a great venue in the Sanford Pentagon, will be special. We have a good number of home games for our fans to see our team before we get into the challenge of our Summit League schedule. We open the Summit League with last year's NCAA Sweet Sixteen team, Oral Roberts."
 
The Coyotes are scheduled for 11 nonconference games with a home slate that includes Southern (Nov. 19), Tennessee State (Nov. 21), Presentation (Nov. 23), Waldorf (Dec. 3), Northern Arizona (Dec. 11) and Bellarmine (Dec. 15). Bellarmine, a successful NCAA Division II program in Kentucky, began its transition to NCAA Division I a year ago and advanced to the CBI in the postseason.
 
A Veteran's Day season opener against Air Force at the Sanford Pentagon on Nov. 11 in Sioux Falls is also included in the Coyote season ticket holder package.
 
South Dakota makes a return to Lincoln, Nebraska, on Nov. 27 to face the Big Ten's Huskers for the second-straight season. Nebraska took last year's contest 76-69.
 
The Coyotes also finish off a home-and-home contract by visiting Drake in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 14. USD faced Drake twice a year ago, at a Kansas State tournament and at home. The Bulldogs went on to compete in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
 
A trip to San Jose State in California on Nov. 30 and Northern Colorado in Greeley on Nov. 7 round out the Coyotes' nonconference road trips.
 
The Summit League slate begins Dec. 20 as the Coyotes host Oral Roberts inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. Rivalry match-ups with South Dakota State are scheduled for Jan. 8 in Brookings and Feb. 5 in Vermillion. Senior day will be a Feb. 19 game versus Western Illinois and the regular season will conclude on the road at Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Feb. 26.
 
Season tickets for Coyote basketball are on sale now. Fans can purchase a combined men's and women's basketball season ticket for $300 or a men's basketball season ticket for $200. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling (605) 677-5959.