ST. LOUIS - Scheduling might have gotten one game easier for the Missouri Valley and Mount West Conferences.

Tuesday, at the Valley's basketball media day, the MVC announced it had agreed in principle to a four-year deal with the MWC that could start as early as November next year. The deal would pit nine teams from each league against one another in an annual battle of top 10 RPI conferences.

"Tough non-conference scheduling has always been paramount in improving our league's stature on the national scene," MVC commissioner Doug Elgin said. "The series helps institutions in both leagues achieve that goal by adding at least one game annually against quality non-conference competition."

The Mountain West was ranked among the top 10 in the NCAA's final RPI report eight of the last nine years, while the Valley has been among the top eight in the last four. The two teams have faced each other 32 times, with the Mountain West holding a 17-15 advantage.

SIU is 13-4 against the Mountain West. The Salukis last played a member of the MWC in 2004-05, when they beat Wyoming 81-69 at SIU Arena.

In its 10th year, the Mountain West is made up of Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, TCU, UNLV, Utah and Wyoming.

Specific details about the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge will be released at a later date, the league said in a release.

- MVC Media Services