Trojans set for second round of SBC-MAC challenge over weekend

The Troy Trojans men’s and women’s basketball teams will be participating in the second round of the SBC-MAC Challenge this upcoming Saturday, Feb. 7. Troy looks to remain undefeated in the challenge after the men’s team took down Kent State on the road, and the women’s team annihilated Toledo at Trojan Arena in November. 

The SBC-MAC Challenge consists of 13 men’s and women’s teams from both the Sun Belt and Mid-Atlantic conferences. The Sun Belt men’s teams host the MAC teams, and the Sun Belt women’s teams visit the MAC programs. 

The Troy Trojans against the Akron Zips will be the headline game for the men’s program. The game is being aired on ESPN2, marking the third straight season that Troy has played a regular-season game on the ESPN network.  

It will be the first nationally televised game in Trojan Arena since a 2022 tilt against Texas State. 

The Trojan women’s team will play against Ball State. The women currently sit in second place in the Sun Belt standings with an 18-4 record. 

During the first round of the challenge, the men's team beat Kent State 103-97 in an overtime showdown. On the women's side, the Trojans crushed Toledo 88-51. For the Sun Belt to win a second title over the MAC, it will need to secure six road victories from the women and 10 home wins from the men. 

Both teams look to lock in another win with the women’s road matchup against Ball State at 12 p.m. The men’s headliner is at 5 p.m. in Trojan Arena and nationally televised on ESPN2.