OREM — Utah Valley men's basketball will head to the Caribbean this November as the Wolverines have accepted an invitation to compete in the 2026 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, one of college basketball's premier early-season tournaments.

The eight-team tournament will be held Nov. 20-23 at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center in St. Thomas and will feature Temple, Middle Tennessee, Indiana State, Stephen F. Austin, UT Martin, Southern Illinois, East Carolina and Utah Valley. Since its debut in 2000, the Paradise Jam has become one of the nation's premier and longest-running early-season college basketball tournaments.

Tournament pairings were announced Thursday, with Utah Valley opening play against East Carolina on Friday, Nov. 20, at 9 p.m. AST (7 p.m. MT). The tournament follows a traditional bracket format, with every team guaranteed three games over the four-day event.

The winner of the Utah Valley-East Carolina matchup will advance to face the winner of UT Martin and Southern Illinois in the semifinals on Sunday, Nov. 22. The championship and consolation games will be played on Monday, Nov. 23.

Hosted annually in St. Thomas, the Paradise Jam has welcomed numerous NCAA Tournament teams and nationally recognized programs throughout its 27-year history, providing a unique early-season opportunity for teams to compete against quality opponents in one of college basketball's premier destination events.

Fans interested in attending the Paradise Jam can view the available Paradise Jam Fan Packages for hotel accommodations, tournament passes and travel information by clicking the link above.

The Paradise Jam marks the first games announced for Utah Valley's 2026-27 men's basketball schedule. The remainder of the Wolverines' nonconference schedule will be announced in the coming weeks on GoUVU.com and the Utah Valley men's basketball social media channels.

Additional information, including television and streaming details, will be announced at a later date.