Ball Dawgs Classic at The Dollar Loan Center to be headlined by New Mexico, Toledo men & Stanford, FSU women

HENDERSON, NEV. – Six men’s teams and four women’s programs will descend upon Las Vegas on Thanksgiving week when the Ball Dawgs Classic tips at The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, home of the NBA G League Ignite. The event is managed by veteran Las Vegas promoter bdG Sports which has managed numerous college basketball events across the Las Vegas Valley, including the Big West Championships at The Dollar Loan Center.

The men’s event will feature three games each day on Nov. 21, 22 and 24 featuring:

  • Indiana State (Missouri Valley) – 23-13 record last season
  • New Mexico (Mountain West) – 22-12 record
  • Pepperdine (WCC) – 9-22 record
  • Rice (AAC) – 19-16 record
  • Toledo (MAC) – 27-8 record
  • UC Irvine (Big West) – 23-12 record

NCAA Tournament participants Stanford and Florida State headline the four-team women’s field. The women’s action tips on Nov. 22 with first-round play. Following an off-day on Thanksgiving, consolation and championship games will be played. The women’s field features:

  • Belmont (Missouri Valley) – 23-12 record, Missouri Valley Conference regular season champions
  • Florida State (ACC) – 23-10, NCAA Tournament berth
  • Stanford (Pac-12) – 29-6 record, Pac-12 regular season champions, NCAA Tournament berth
  • Northwestern (Big Ten) – 9-21 record

Pairings for both men’s and women’s games will be announced at a later date.

bdG Sports has partnered with Ball Dawgs, a fast-rising sports content provider with more than 825,000 followers on its social media platforms, to promote the games and showcase the action on the court.

“Our firm has quickly found a home at The Dollar Loan Center as we annually manage the Big West Championships at the site, provide operational support for the Ignite home games and have launched and managed our own events at the arena over the past year,” said bdG Sports President & CEO Brooks Downing. “We look forward to generating excitement and exposure for the teams and players in this event through our partnership with Ball Dawgs and hope that translates to a packed building on Thanksgiving week.”

The Dollar Loan Center opened in March 2022 as home to the Vegas Golden Knights’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights. A product of a public-private partnership between the City of Henderson and a group of investors led by Bill Foley, the 5,567-seat arena is operated by the Foley Entertainment Group. The Dollar Loan Center, also home to the Indoor Football League’s Vegas Knight Hawks, NBA G League’s Ignite, Big West Basketball Championships and the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, sits in the heart of Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas which has grown to become Nevada’s second largest city with more than 330,000 residents.

FULL SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Nov. 21

Three men’s games starting at 3:30 p.m. PT

Wednesday, Nov. 22

Two women’s games starting at 11 a.m. PT

Three men’s games starting at 4 p.m. PT

Friday, Nov. 24

Three men’s games starting at 11 a.m. PT

Two women’s games starting at 6:30 p.m. PT

Tickets for the event will go on-sale on July 21 at 10 a.m. PT at www.thedollarloancenter.com and www.axs.com. Full event information can be found at www.balldawgsclassic.com and on social media at @VegasMainEvent on all social media channels as well as @BallDawgs on Instagram and @TheBallDawgs on Twitter.

Iona, Louisiana and Hofstra headline 2023 Gulf Coast Showcase men’s field

ESTERO, Fla. – Southwest Florida serves as the backdrop to great college basketball action when eight Division I men’s teams visit for the 11th annual Gulf Coast Showcase, Nov. 20‐ 22, at Hertz Arena. The Thanksgiving Week event is operated by bdG Sports.

Headlined by 2023 NCAA Tournament participants Iona and Louisiana, along with 2023 Colonial Athletic Association regular‐season champion and NIT participant, Hofstra, the field also includes: Buffalo, High Point, Illinois State, Long Beach State and Wright State.

Action starts Monday, Nov. 20 with the following matchups:

  • Iona vs. High Point – 11 a.m. ET
  • Long Beach State vs. Illinois State – 1:30 p.m.
  • Louisiana vs. Wright State – 5 p.m.
  • Hofstra vs. Buffalo – 7:30 p.m.

Game times for Tuesday and Wednesday will be the same with semifinal games on Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday’s championship game will tip at 7:30 p.m. All games will be streamed live by FloHoops.

The Gulf Coast Showcase will continue to support the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The hospital is the only children’s hospital between Tampa and Miami and provides vital health care for the region’s sick and injured children and their families. The hospital’s facility provides 300,000 square feet of space, 128 pediatric and NICU beds, a 17‐bay emergency department, a freestanding pediatric pharmacy and in‐hospital school classroom.

TICKET AND FAN TRAVEL INFORMATION

Fan travel information, including preferred hotel rates at the official tournament resort, and ticket information can be found at the official event website – www.gulfcoastshowcase.com. Tickets go on sale beginning Monday, July 17.

San Diego State, Xavier, Washington & Saint Mary’s headed to Vegas for Continental Tire Main Event

LAS VEGAS – NCAA Tournament finalist San Diego State will make its first appearance at T-Mobile Arena next season when it tips off in the Continental Tire Main Event. The Aztecs will be joined by Xavier, Washington and Saint Mary’s in the four-team tournament which will be played Friday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, Nov. 19, during one of the grandest weekends in Las Vegas history when Formula 1 also comes to The Strip.

Since launching in 2014, the Continental Tire Main Event has blossomed into one of the premier early season tournaments in all of college basketball. Virginia won last season’s tournament, beating Illinois and catapulting the Cavaliers to a national top-five ranking. The event benefits Coaches vs. Cancer, an initiative spearheaded by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (www.nabc.com) and the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) and is managed by veteran Las Vegas promoter bdG Sports.

Xavier advanced to the Sweet 16 in last year’s tournament and finished No. 13 in the AP Top 25. St. Mary’s lost in the round of 32 to eventual national champ UConn, and finished #19 in the nation. But it’s the Aztecs who burst on the national scene, finishing the season 32-7 after making its magical run to the national championship game.  SDSU is projected to return four of the top six scorers from last year’s team and add the reigning Pac-12 Sixth Player of the Year in USC transfer Reese Dixon-Waters.

“With such a strong field, we are excited to compete in the Continental Tires Main Event,” said San Diego State head coach Brian Dutcher. “The tournament will give us a good barometer as to where our team stands early in the season. We’ve had a lot of success playing in Las Vegas over the years, know our fans will be there to support us and look forward to our first games in T-Mobile Arena.”

Xavier welcomed back head coach Sean Miller a year ago and the hire immediately paid dividends. The Musketeers won 27 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

“The Continental Tire Main Event in Las Vegas will be an incredible pre-season tournament for our basketball program to compete in and for our fans to enjoy watching,” said Miller. “T-Mobile Arena is a tremendous venue for college basketball. The field includes three successful programs in San Diego State, St. Mary’s and Washington. We look forwarding to competing with these programs in Las Vegas.”

Last season, Saint Mary’s spent the second half of the season in the top-25 en route to capturing a share of the WCC regular-season title and earning a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Gaels are projected to once again be a top-25 program, returning four of the top five scorers from last season.

“It’s great to be featured in this year’s Continental Tire Main Event,” said Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett. “One of the teams in last year’s National Championship game is in the field, so the competition is always great. It tests us for March, and that’s the goal of getting into these types of events.”

Washington is no stranger to Las Vegas as the Huskies have played eight games at T-Mobile Arena over the past six years as part of the Pac-12 Tournament and other early season events. Mike Hopkins’ squad will be bolstered by Kentucky transfer Sahvir Wheeler, the SEC’s assists leader in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

“We are excited to play in such a prestigious tournament,” said Washington head coach Mike Hopkins. “The possibility of playing three teams that were all in the top-20 of the NET last season is incredible. This will be a great test to see where our team stands and where we have to go.”

Tickets for the two-day tournament range from $35 to $499 for courtside seats per day (prices are inclusive of tax and facility fee) and can be purchased starting Friday, June 30 at 10 a.m. PT at www.tmobilearena.com or www.axs.com as well as the AXS app. First-round games will be played Friday, Nov. 17 with the consolation and championship games tipping Sunday, Nov. 19. Tickets will allow access to both games on the given day.

Fans also can now book rooms at one of the many resort properties within walking distance of T-Mobile Arena by visiting www.continentaltiremainevent.com. Pairings and game times will be announced soon and the event will be nationally televised on ESPN networks.

Fans can find the latest tournament news by following @VegasMainEvent on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok.

Final field and pairings announced for 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Georgia will join 2023 NCAA Tournament participants Miami, Kansas State and Providence in the four-team field for the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship, Nov. 17 and 19 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center.

CBS Sports Network will televise the event’s third edition beginning with first-round action Friday, Nov. 17. Miami will battle Georgia at 3:30 p.m. ET followed by Kansas State taking on Providence at 6 p.m. The consolation game on Sunday, Nov. 19 tips at noon followed by the championship game at 2:30 p.m.

Miami advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in program history in 2022-23, while winning the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship and garnering a 29-8 overall mark.

Kansas State reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament a year ago, tied for third in the Big 12 Conference and capped its season with a 26-10 record.

Providence made its seventh NCAA tournament appearance since 2014 last season while posting a 21-12 mark. The Friars named Kim English their new head coach in late March.

Georgia posted a 16-16 record in 2022-23, achieving the program’s most wins in three seasons under first-year head coach Mike White.

Past winners of the event include Louisville (2021) and UCF (2022).

MORE THAN BASKETBALL AWAITS AT THE BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR RESORT

The remarkable Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this basketball showcase. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.

VIP PACKAGES AND TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Basketball fans interested in attending the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship can purchase VIP packages available online at www.bahamarhoops.com. Amenities include a four-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, two courtside tickets to all games of the Bahamas Championship, two tickets to the tournament’s VIP reception (Nov. 18) with dinner and open bar included, round-trip ground transportation from the airport and resort, two daily breakfast voucher and personal concierge service. (Airfare not included in the packages.)

Tournament Passes, which include tickets to all four games of the event are available for purchase separately at www.bahamarhoops.com.

Penn State, Xavier bound for Baha Mar Resort this summer for foreign exhibition tour

NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS – Fans of the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Xavier Musketeers can follow their teams to The Bahamas on a foreign exhibition basketball tour this August when both squads play a pair of games against international competition as part of the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League.

Penn State and Xavier will arrive in beautiful Nassau, The Bahamas, and stay at the stunning Baha Mar resort beginning Sunday, Aug. 6. Each team will play single games on Tuesday, Aug. 8 and Thursday, Aug. 10 at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center. Games are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET each day. International opponents include the Bahamas and the University of Victoria (Canada). The complete schedule follows.

2023 BAHA MAR HOOPS SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Aug. 8

  • Xavier vs. University of Victoria, 4:30 p.m. ET
  • Penn State vs. The Bahamas, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 10

  • Penn State vs. University of Victoria, 4:30 p.m. ET
  • Xavier vs. The Bahamas 7:30 p.m.

Penn State is coming off a 23-14 campaign in 2022-23 that saw the Nittany Lions advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The coming 2023-24 season marks the first under new head coach Mike Rhoades, who came to Penn State after a six-year stint at VCU.

“What a perfect time for our basketball family to have a foreign trip to The Bahamas,” Rhoades said. “This valuable time to work and play together during a foreign trip will help us as we move into our first season together. We will spend seven days in The Bahamas and play some games, but most importantly create some lifelong memories as members of Penn State Basketball. We are very appreciative of those who made this foreign trip possible.  We will take full advantage of this great opportunity.”

Xavier welcomed back head coach Sean Miller last season and responded with a 27-10 campaign that featured a run to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen.

“We are very excited to be going to the Bahamas this summer on a foreign trip,” Miller said. “This is a great opportunity for our players and staff to spend time working together to build our team for the 2023-24 season. In addition to the valuable basketball experiences, the foreign trip to the Bahamas also provides an opportunity to create some special memories that will bring our Xavier Basketball family closer together.”

NCAA rules allow for a foreign tour by an intercollegiate team once every four academic years. The Baha Mar Hoops Summer League is managed by bdG Sports, a Lexington-based event marketing firm which annually manages more than two dozen games at Baha Mar each November. The Nittany Lions are participating in a joint effort with bdG Sports and Global Sports and Events (GSE).

BAHA MAR RESORT

The remarkable Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this unique fan experience. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.

“Baha Mar is without question the hottest resort in the world with so many entertainment options on site; it will be an incredible host for both teams and their fan bases,” said Brooks Downing, President and CEO of bdG Sports.

VIP PACKAGES AND TICKET INFORMATION

Complete information with VIP package details, along with room and ticket options can be found at www.bahamarhoops.com. VIP packages are on sale now and feature a five-night stay in either a king suite, king room or double queen room, two tickets for both games each day, two tickets to a VIP event reception on Wednesday, Aug. 9, ground transportation to and from the airport, as well as a pair of breakfast vouchers each day and two commemorative T-shirts. Packages are available with either courtside or general admission seating.

Individual accommodations and game tickets also can be purchased al la carte.

15 men’s & women’s teams announced as part of 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship and Nassau Championship fields

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Eight NCAA Division I women’s basketball teams, seven of which qualified for postseason play in 2022-23, will appear in the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship, Nov. 20 and 22, at the Baha Mar Resort. That number could rise as well as two additional spots remain to be finalized in the 10-team field.

Squads making the trip to the beautiful Baha Mar Resort include Columbia (28-6, 12-2 Ivy League in 2022-23), East Carolina (23-10, 11-5 American Athletic), Georgia (22-12, 9-7 Southeastern), Oklahoma State (21-12, 10-8 Big 12), Penn State (14-17, 4-14 Big Ten), Purdue (19-11, 9-8 Big Ten), Seton Hall (19-15, 10-10 Big East) and USC (21-10, 11-7 Pac-12).

Five of the eight teams committed to play advanced to the 2023 NCAA Tournament, including East Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma State, Purdue and USC. Columbia and Seton Hall both played in the WNIT, with Columbia finishing as runners up in the event.

The non-bracketed Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship gives schools the opportunity to play a pair of games against some of the top women’s basketball programs in the nation. Virginia Tech, who won both of its contests in the 2022 event, parlayed its experience into winning the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship and achieving the program’s first NCAA Final Four appearance.

Seven of eight teams finalized for Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship

Seven mid-major Division I men’s basketball teams are scheduled to play in the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship, Nov. 24-26, at the Baha Mar Resort.

The partial field currently includes Brown (14-13, 7-7 Ivy League in 2022-23), Delaware (17-16, 8-10 Colonial Athletic Association), George Washington (16-16, 10-8 Atlantic 10), UIC (12-20, 4-16 Missouri Valley), Kansas City (11-21, 7-11 Summit League), Middle Tennessee (19-14, 11-9 Conference USA) and Ohio (19-14, 10-8 Mid-American).

Five teams that competed in the 2022 event went on to post at least 20 victories this past season, highlighted by Vermont qualifying for the NCAA Tournament; North Texas winning the postseason NIT; and San Jose State appearing in the CBI.

The complete field for both events along with tournament schedule, ticket information and streaming details will be announced at a later date.

Trio of NCAA Tournament teams – Kansas State, Miami & Providence – to meet at 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Three teams who appeared in this month’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, including Final Four participant Miami, will meet at the 2023 Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship, Nov. 17 and 19, at Baha Mar Resort.

Other teams scheduled to participate include NCAA Tournament East Region finalist Kansas State as well as NCAA Tournament qualifier Providence, led by new head coach Kim English.

While the complete four-team field along with ticket information and television details will be announced later, fans can begin to make their reservation plans now!

BAHA MAR RESORT INFORMATION
A mere 55-minute flight from Florida, Baha Mar opened in 2017 and is home to three iconic brands: Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood. Situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters, the resort destination features more than 2,300 rooms and an abundance of dynamic programming, activities, and amenities including the largest casino in the Caribbean, a state-of-the-art convention center, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA spa, a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges, and more. The $200 million luxury water park, Baha Bay, debuted in July 2021 as the latest addition to Baha Mar’s portfolio of spectacular guest offerings. Set on 15 beachfront acres, Baha Bay has introduced an exciting array of aquatic activities and experiences, alfresco dining, a gaming pavilion, beach club, and more.

RESERVE YOUR ROOM AT BAHA MAR
To make reservations at the Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar click here:
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/thebahamas/grand-hyatt-baha-mar/nasgh?corp_id=175084#quickbook

VIP PACKAGES
Interested in VIP packages that include suites, courtside tickets, gameday function, airport transfers and breakfast vouchers? Send an email to info@bdglobalsports.com.

TICKET INFORMATION
Additional ticket information for Baha Mar Hoops will be available in the coming weeks on BahaMarHoops.com.

bdG Sports sponsor exemption Ben Silverman wins the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic

GREAT ABACO, The Bahamas – Ben Silverman shot 118 in his first Canadian Junior Golf Association tournament, an unsurprising result given the fact he was 16 years old, relatively new to the game, and still thought of himself as a hockey player rather than an aspiring professional golfer. As Silverman lined up a playoff-forcing 3-footer for double bogey on the 72nd hole of The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club Wednesday afternoon, surrendering the last two shots of what was at one point an eight-stroke lead, it probably felt like a putt for 118.

Chandler Phillips cards four back-nine birdies to win the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic

GREAT EXUMA, The Bahamas – Chandler Phillips lived with teammate and future PGA TOUR winner Cameron Champ at Texas A&M University. He represented the United States in international competition alongside the likes of Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa. And he even defeated Keita Nakajima, formerly the No. 1 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, in match play at the 2019 Arnold Palmer Cup.

No. 10 Arizona beats No. 14 Indiana in The Clash presented by The Halal Guys

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Azuolas Tubelis scored 21 points and No. 10 Arizona defeated No. 14 Indiana 89-75 on Saturday night in The Clash presented by The Halal Guys.

The Wildcats (8-1) held off Indiana’s surge after their lead was trimmed to 59-56 on consecutive 3-pointers by the Hoosiers midway through the second half. Arizona responded with three straight 3s to build its cushion back to double digits.