Missouri State University Director of Athletics Kyle Moats announced Wednesday (July 27) the University has received a waiver from the NCAA to also play a women’s basketball exhibition game at Missouri Southern State University on Saturday, Nov. 5. The game will be part of a doubleheader, including a previously-announced game between the men’s teams of the two schools.

The event on the campus of Missouri Southern in Joplin will be held in conjunction with ongoing area-wide relief efforts to aid victims of the May 22 tornado that tore through the southwest Missouri community about 70 miles west of Springfield. All proceeds from the games will go directly to the Missouri Southern Foundation’s Tornado Emergency Relief Fund to help aid the relief effort for the deadly natural disaster.

The NCAA waivers allow the Bears and Lady Bears to retain their two home exhibition games. The Lady Bears’ non-conference schedule is still being finalized.

“This will be a unique event with both of our teams in action for a great cause,” said Moats. “The people of Joplin are still hurting, and we want them to know we are with them for the long haul.”

Game times will be 5 p.m. for the women’s game and 7 p.m. for the men’s game at Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the MSSU campus.

Tickets for the doubleheader are $15 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission and will be available to the general public, starting at 8 a.m. on Monday, August 8 by calling the MSSU Ticket Office at (417) 625-9366. The ticket office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

— MSU Sports Information —