SoCon announces Nexstar basketball broadcast schedule

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., Ingles Markets and the Southern Conference announced Monday that they will partner to broadcast 10 SoCon men’s basketball regular-season games, four regular-season women’s basketball games along with another game to be named on a later date throughout the league’s six-state footprint across a network of Nexstar stations.

“This year’s Ingles SoCon Game of the Week package on Nexstar is special.  It features all ten institutions, the most women’s games ever, the most non-conference games ever as part of our scheduling partnership with the ASUN, and a wildcard opportunity to feature a crucial late season matchup that could have implications for the SoCon’s regular season title,” SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross said. “We appreciate the tremendous, continued support of Ingles Markets and Nexstar to amplify the message that “It’s All Here” in the SoCon.”

 "Ingles partnership with Nexstar and the investment providing The Ingles Southern Conference Game of the Week highlights the talent, energy and excitement of SoCon Basketball", Melissa Leavell, Advertising Director of Ingles Markets, said.  "With more schools in the running for a ticket to the big dance than any other Mid Major, Ingles is thrilled to follow every Socon team through their seasons and as they compete in The Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championships. We are especially thrilled to highlight and broadcast exciting match ups from both men's and women's programs. Ingles and Nexstar are committed to bringing the best of Southern Conference Athletics beyond the arena".

The broadcast package will start with a trio of men’s basketball nonconference matchups, beginning with the College of Charleston visiting The Citadel on Nov. 20. The next two games will be Queens at ETSU on Nov. 24, and North Alabama at Wofford on Dec. 1.

On Dec. 7, the first women’s game in the package will air between App State and Wofford. The next day, Austin Peay’s men’s squad will visit Samford in the final game before the calendar year concludes.

VMI will welcome Mercer on Jan. 4 to begin the conference’s slate in 2025. The following Thursday, the two-time defending champion Chattanooga women head to Cullowhee to take on Western Carolina on Jan. 9.

The next four games on the schedule are all men’s games on Saturday. Wofford plays at Furman on Jan. 11, Chattanooga visits the Paladins on Jan. 18, the Terriers head to Birmingham to take on Samford on Jan. 25 and UNCG hosts Wofford on Feb. 1.

The ETSU and Western Carolina men face off on Feb. 12, before Furman and UNCG women play in Greensboro on Feb. 13. A week after that, Samford and Wofford’s women’s teams play in the final scheduled game in the package. The league’s wildcard matchup will be announced during the season, with that contest taking place on Feb. 26.
 
Each game in the package will also air concurrently on ESPN+.
 
Nexstar affiliates with the opportunity to air games are: WCBD (Charleston), WBTW (Myrtle Beach), WGHP (Greensboro/High Point), WHDF (Huntsville/Florence), WJHL (Johnson City), WMYT (Charlotte), WWCW (Lynchburg/Roanoke) and WYCW (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville). Although not a Nexstar station, EFLI (Chattanooga), WMUB (Macon), Mercer University Broadcasting, will also air select contests.

2024-25 Southern Conference Basketball games on Nexstar affiliates (all times Eastern)
Wednesday Nov. 20                 Charleston at The Citadel, 6 p.m.

Sunday Nov. 24                       Queens at ETSU, 5 p.m.

Sunday Dec. 1                         North Alabama at Wofford 4 p.m.

*Saturday Dec. 7                     App St. at Wofford, 6 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 8                        Austin Peay at Samford, 3 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4                      Mercer at VMI, 4:30 p.m.

*Thursday, Jan. 9                     Chattanooga at Western Carolina, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 11                     Wofford at Furman, Noon

Saturday, Jan. 18                     Chattanooga at Furman 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 25                     Wofford at Samford, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 1                      Wofford at UNCG, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 12                ETSU at Western Carolina, 6 p.m.

*Thursday, Feb. 13                  Furman at UNCG, 6 p.m.

*Thursday, Feb. 20                  Samford at Wofford, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 26                Wildcard selection 6 p.m. (game will be chosen on Feb. 10)