ELON, N.C. – The field for the 2012 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational is set, and Elon is one of 12 men’s basketball teams to participate in this year’s tournament. The Phoenix heads to Indianapolis, Ind., on Nov. 10 to face two-time national runner-up Butler in the Opening Games.
Following the Opening Games of the Maui Invitational, Elon hosts the Regional Games on Nov. 17-18 in Alumni Gym. The two-day, four-game event will bring Colgate, Coppin State and Florida Atlantic to campus.
“We are excited to be part of such a storied tournament as the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational and to be part of a select group of schools chosen to host the Regional Games,” said Elon University Director of Athletics Dave Blank. “It is a continued goal to present our student-athletes with opportunities to challenge some of the best competition in the nation and competing in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational allows us to do that. We look forward to playing former national runner-up in Butler during the Opening Games and then showcasing the Regional Games on our home court.”
“It’s an honor to be associated with such a prestigious tournament as the Maui Invitational,” said Elon head coach Matt Matheny. “Opening up against a national power like Butler will be a great test for our program. We’re also very excited and fortunate to bring the Regional Games and three very good programs to our campus for the Mainland portion of the tournament.”
The format of the Maui Invitational includes four Mainland Teams in addition to the eight teams bound for Hawaii, called the Island Teams. The Island Teams will continue with the traditional three-day tournament played at Maui’s Lahaina Civic Center. The Island Teams include Butler, North Carolina, Illinois, Marquette, Mississippi State, Texas, USC and host Chaminade. This final stage of the tournament is known as the Championship Round.
Prior to the Championship Round, seven of the eight Island Teams (Chaminade not included) will host Mainland Teams in what are known as the Opening Games. Colgate, Coppin State and Florida Atlantic, along with Elon, comprise the Mainland Teams.
The four Mainland Teams will then travel to Alumni Gym on Nov. 17-18 to take part in the Regional Games. The Phoenix will take on Colgate on Nov. 17 in its first Regional Game while Coppin State squares off against Florida Atlantic. The winner from each game will play in the championship contest on Nov. 18, preceded by the consolation game.
Elon’s EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Schedule
Nov. 10 – at Butler (Opening Game – Indianapolis, Ind.)
Nov. 17 – vs. Colgate (Regional Game – Elon, N.C.)
Nov. 18 – vs. TBD (Regional Game – Elon, N.C.)
EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Complete Schedule
Opening Games
Nov. 9 – Colgate at Illinois (Assembly Hall – Champaign, Ill.)
Nov. 9 – Coppin State at USC (Galen Center – Los Angeles, Calif.)
Nov. 10 – Elon at Butler (Hinkle Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, Ind.)
Nov. 11 – Colgate at Marquette (Bradley Center – Milwaukee, Wisc.)
Nov. 11 – Florida Atlantic at North Carolina (Dean Smith Center – Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Nov. 12 – Coppin State at Texas (Frank Erwin Center – Austin, Texas)
Nov. 13 – Florida Atlantic at Mississippi State (Humphrey Coliseum – Starkville, Miss.)
Regional Games (Alumni Gym – Elon, N.C.)
Nov. 17 – Elon vs. Colgate
Nov. 17 – Florida Atlantic vs. Coppin State
Nov. 18 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser
Nov. 18 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner
Championship Round (Lahaina Civic Center – Maui, Hawaii)
Nov. 19 – Butler vs. Marquette
Nov. 19 – Mississippi State vs. North Carolina
Nov. 19 – Texas vs. Chaminade
Nov. 19 – USC vs. Illinois