It was announced Friday that Iowa will face West Virginia in the third round of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational.

The Hawkeyes and Mountaineers will meet in an 8 p.m. game on Friday, Nov. 28 at the Orleans Arena, prior to a game between Kentucky and Kansas State. Iowa will face either the SEC or Big 12 team the following day with a starting time of 6:30 or 9:30 p.m. based on Friday’s results. ESPN2 will televise the tournament’s championship game.

West Virginia posted a 26-11 overall record a year ago, advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 before a 79-75 overtime loss to Xavier. Hawkeye junior college transfer Devan Bawinkel transferred from the Mountaineers program prior to the 2007-08 season, playing at Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill., before signing with Iowa last April.

“West Virginia was played as well as anyone in the nation at the end of last season, as its run in the NCAA Tournament shows,” Iowa coach Todd Lickliter said in a statement. “Our guys can gain a lot of valuable experience against high quality programs in this event.”

The Hawkeyes have played West Virginia just once before, winning a 79-76 on Dec. 29, 1956 in the third round of the Dixie Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Iowa will host two preliminary round games in the tourney, playing Oakland University on Sunday, Nov. 23 and Southeast Missouri State on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

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