Men's Hoops Heading to Caribbean this Fall

ABILENE – Abilene Christian heads to the U.S. Virgin Islands for three games Nov. 17-20 as part of the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam.
 
The tournament will be a traditional eight-team bracket. Action begins on Friday, Nov. 17, with Norfolk State vs. Fordham facing off at 1 p.m. followed by Abilene Christian and San Jose State at 3:15 p.m. In the evening doubleheader, Hampton will take on Kent State at 5:45 p.m., while Missouri State and Florida Gulf Coast will tangle at 8 p.m. All times are Central.
 
"We are excited to participate in the Paradise Jam this season," said ACU Head Coach Brette Tanner. "To be invited to participate in an event with so much history is truly an honor. As we continue to grow as a program these are the kind of events we want to be playing in. The field is super strong and competing at this level will be a challenge but one that we are looking forward to."
 
The consolation bracket begins Saturday, Nov. 18 at 3:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., while day one winners advance to the semifinals that will be played Sunday, Nov. 19 at 5:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. The tournament concludes Monday, Nov. 20.
 
The seventh-place game will start at 1 p.m., followed by the fourth-place game at 3:15 p.m. The evening session includes the third-place game at 5:45 p.m. and the tournament championship will tip-off at 8 p.m.
 
"On behalf of the entire U.S. Virgin Islands, I am excited to welcome the players, coaches, and fans from these amazing collegiate programs to St. Thomas for the 23rd and 24th annual Paradise Jam tournament," said Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, USVI Department of Tourism. "There's no place in the world like our beautiful islands, and we invite everyone to fall naturally in rhythm while enjoying the games, exploring the island's unforgettable attractions, and enjoying our pristine beaches for a little pre-season relaxation."
 
Fan travel packages will be sold at a later date. For more information leading up to the tournament, check out the Paradise Jam on social media and at paradisejam.com.  All games will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
San Jose State's 11-win improvement last year was one the best in the nation. The Spartans went 8-23 in 2022 before going 21-14 in 2023.
 
Kent State was the automatic qualifier from the Mid-American Conference and played in last year's NCAA Tournament.