(Read this story at CSURams.com)

Colorado State men’s basketball announced its 18-game 2016-17 Mountain West schedule today, as the league released the entire line up of games earlier today. The schedule format for the 11-member lineup includes eight home-and-home series and two one-time games.

The 2016-17 MW schedule begins on Wednesday, December 28 with five contests, with the Rams opening at home on that date against UNLV and new head coach Marvin Menzies. CSU will host UNLV, Air Force, New Mexico, San Jose State, Boise State, Utah State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Wyoming at Moby Arena this year in league play. The game against Air Force will be the only time the two in-state rivals will face off this year, while the season finale at Nevada will be the only time the Rams will take on the Wolf Pack during the regular season.

Each institution will play nine home contests and make nine road trips during the Conference portion of the season. This is the fourth year that the MW has utilized the 18-game format since expanding to its current membership in 2013-14.

Today’s release represents the first phase in the 2016-17 men’s basketball schedule process. Mountain West national television partners CBS Sports Network and ESPN will initiate a selection procedure which will include the shifting of Wednesday games to Tuesday and Saturday games to Sunday. The national television selections should be completed by the middle of August. Regional partner ROOT SPORTS and the Mountain West Network on Campus Insiders will begin their picks after the national television lineup has been announced.

The Conference season plays out over 10 weeks and concludes on Saturday, March 4. League play will determine the seeding for the 2017 MW Men’s Basketball Championship held March 8-11 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Colorado State and other conference teams will release game times and non-conference schedules in the coming weeks, along with CSU also sharing its selected special-event games in the future.

Colorado State’s 2016-17 Mountain West Schedule:

Wednesday, December 28     —     UNLV

Saturday, December 31     —     at Boise State

Wednesday, January 4     —     at San José State

Saturday, January 7     —     Air Force

Saturday, January 14     —     New Mexico

Wednesday, January 18     —     at Fresno State

Saturday, January 21     —     at Utah State

Wednesday, January 25     —     San José State

Saturday, January 28     —     at San Diego State

Wednesday, February 1     —     Boise State

Saturday, February 4     —     at UNLV

Wednesday, February 8     —     Utah State

Saturday, February 11     —     Fresno State

Wednesday, February 15     —     at Wyoming

Wednesday, February 22     —     at New Mexico

Saturday, February 25     —     San Diego State

Wednesday, March 1     —     Wyoming

Saturday, March 4     —     at Nevada