UAFS Athletic Director Dr. Dustin Smith recently announced that the UAFS men's and women's basketball doubleheader against Lubbock Christian on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Stubblefield Center will be nationally televised on American Sports Network.

The Heartland Conference games will air live as part of the network's Division II National Showcase. It will be the first time UAFS has hosted a nationally televised athletic event on campus.

"What an awesome opportunity for UAFS and our athletics program to be showcased on national television," Smith said. "It truly is an honor to be selected and have the opportunity to represent Division II for the national games of the week."

Game times for the have been revised to accommodate the national television broadcast. The women's game will now begin at 5 p.m., and the men's game will follow at about 7 p.m.

Tickets are $4 for non-UAFS students and $6 for adults. Admission is free for UAFS students, faculty and staff with a current university ID. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling UAFS Box Office at 479-788-7300.

The games will be broadcast on NCAA.com and ASN. A week prior to the games, an announcement will be made in regards to what ASN affiliates will be picking up the games for broadcast.

Hosting a nationally televised game has been one of Smith's goals for the athletics program since it became a member of NCAA Division II seven years ago and is pleased the program now has the opportunity to showcase not only its athletics program but also UAFS and the community.

"I know Heartland Conference Commissioner Tony Stigliano and I have been lobbying for this to happen for a few years," Smith said. "I couldn't be more pleased for UAFS, our athletics program, our student-athletes and our community to get to be showcased on a national platform."

UAFS is not the first conference school to host a nationally televised basketball game, but it is the first to host both men's and women's basketball games in a doubleheader format, which is a rare opportunity.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in national television games, and to have them broadcast both the men's and women's games is truly phenomenal," Smith said. "I look forward to a very exciting event and would like to encourage all fans to come out and show support for our athletics program. It will be a great opportunity for us to show how supportive our community is of our institution and our athletics program."

UAFS and Lubbock Christian, which recently became an active NCAA Division II member, are among the top men's and women's basketball teams in the conference.

The Lions were the preseason favorite to win the conference, and the Lady Lions, who are the defending conference champions, were picked to finish second. Lubbock Christian's women's team was picked to win the conference and is currently ranked No. 12 in the latest USA Today Coaches NCAA Division II Top 25. Its men's team was picked to finish third in the conference.

"Lubbock Christian has proven to be a quality opponent every year since they have been on our schedule. They have had a brilliant NAIA tradition and are looking to make an impact at the Division II level," Smith said. "I think both games that evening will be two very highly-competitive games that will highlight both of our programs and really do justice to how solid our conference is in basketball."

UAFS has special activities and promotions planned for the nationally televised games. It will be "Blue and White" Night at the Stubblefield Center, and fans are encouraged to where blue or white attire to the game. Other promotions are planned for the games and will be announced in the coming weeks.

ASN is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., which is the largest and one of the most-diversified television broadcasting companies in the country with 162 television stations airing 376 channels in 79 markets and affiliations with all the major networks.

ASN is composed of 162 Sinclair-owned and operated television stations nationwide with 376 channels in 79 markets, many in the NCHC footprint, which combine to reach approximately 43 million households nationwide.

It has also developed an affiliate network of regional sports networks to increase the per-game potential distribution to more than 60 million households on average. The company, which launched in 2014-15, produced 250 college events in nine sports and plans to air more than 375 events in 2015-16.aces.