Texas A&M vs. Auburn
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl cheers from the sidelines Tuesday, March 1, 2016, during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against Texas A&M at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) ORG XMIT: ALBIN
(JULIE BENNETT)
The Auburn men's basketball team is set to play in the 2016 Cancun Challenge next season along with Purdue, Texas Tech and Utah State, Triple Crown Sports announced Wednesday.
The Tigers, Boilermakes, Red Raiders and Aggies make up the "Riviera Division" of the Cancun Challenge and will play in Mexico Nov. 22-23. Four more schools, which will be announced later this spring, will be selected for the "Mayan Division." The Riviera Division teams will host the Mayan Division teams before all eight squads head to Cancun.
"We are very happy to announce the participation of four great teams for the 2016 Cancun Challenge. The event has had many great basketball programs in the past, and this year's field will continue the tradition," said tournament director Brent Amick in a release. "The uniqueness of the location and event setup makes this tournament a truly special experience for fans who want to follow their favorite team. It is a great way to enjoy the warm climate of the Riviera Maya combined with great basketball in a close-up, intimate setting."
Auburn played three games outside of the continental United States this season and finished 1-2 at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu Dec. 22-25. The Tigers beat New Mexico before falling to Harvard and Hawaii Dec. 22-25.
Auburn (11-18, 5-13 SEC) travels to Mississippi State Saturday for the regular season finale before playing in the SEC Tournament next week in Nashville.
The Cancun Challenge is entering its ninth year and will be televised by CBS. For more information, visit CancunChallenge.net.