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May 21, 2015The 2015-16 season may be a tough one for the Cleveland State Vikings, but at the very least they will be able to enjoy some time on the beach. CSU will be among eight teams competing in the Cancun Challenge, hosted by the Hard Rock Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico.
The other seven teams are Houston Baptist, Illinois State, Maryland, Rhode Island, Rider, South Dakota State, and TCU. The teams are split up into two divisions: The Riviera and the Mayan. CSU is joined in the Mayan Division by Houston Baptist, Rider, and South Dakota State.
The tournament begins November 19. The Riviera Division games will air on the CBS Sports network, while the other games will be streamed via YouTube Live.
This will be Cleveland State’s second trip to Cancun, as the Vikings played in the second edition of the Mexican showcase in 2009. CSU went 2-2 in their last trip, highlighted by Norris Cole scoring 38 points against Florida A&M, a tournament single-game record.
In a small bit of Viking trivia, guard Kaza Keane spent two seasons at Illinois State before transferring to CSU.
The Cancun Challenge looks to be part basketball competition and larger part marketing gambit, as the tournament website spends as much time discussing the amenities of its host resort as it does basketball. Doesn’t this get you psyched for a nice 1-2-2 full court press?
Located just off the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea, Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya offers the ultimate vacation for guests of all ages with both the adults-only and family friendly resort experiences. With a combined 1,264 ultra-posh and lavishly appointed guestrooms boasting balcony, terrace views or new, expansive sky terrace options with picturesque views, hydro tubs in each room, world-class shopping and endless style, Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya is nothing short of the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
And, in case you were wondering, Vikingo is actually the Spanish word for “viking.”
[Related: Cleveland State basketball offseason roundup]