FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 1, 2022) – Long Island University, Northern Illinois, South Dakota and Sam Houston make up the four-team field for the 2022 Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Palms Division, Tournament organizers announced today. The second edition of the Palms Division will take place Nov. 22-23 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College.

The quartet of teams making up the Palms Division will join the previously announced Beach Division field of Georgia Tech, Marquette, Mississippi State and Utah, in Fort Myers during Thanksgiving Week. Beach Division games will take place Nov. 21 and 23.

Matchups for all Beach and Palms Division contests will be announced in the coming weeks.

LIU, South Dakota and Sam Houston finished in the upper half of their respective conferences last season and are poised to do so once again in 2022-23. The Coyotes and the Bearkats each finished with 19 overall victories with the Bearkats posting 13 conference wins in their first season in the WAC, just one game out of sharing the conference title. Northern Illinois enters year two under head coach Rashon Burno and will look to All-Conference honoree Keshawn Williams to lead the way, while LIU begins the Rod Strickland era with its sights set on improving its third-place conference finish last year.

Official fan travel packages for the 2022 Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off are now available for fans from all eight participating programs looking to spend Thanksgiving Week in sunny Fort Myers with their favorite team. Travel packages include tickets to each Beach or Palms Division game, hotel accommodations and parking at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. For complete travel package information, log on to www.fortmyerstipoff.com/travel.

At this time, the only way to guarantee tickets for the 2022 Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off is to purchase an official fan travel package. Ticket-only packages, based on availability, will become available this fall. To receive the latest email alerts regarding tournament news, ticket information and more, visit our website at www.fortmyerstipoff.com.

The Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa is the host hotel for the Palms Division teams of the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-off, and fans will have the opportunity to stay where the teams stay and experience resort life to the fullest. Additionally, the Luminary Hotel & Co., a boutique hotel that opened in September 2020, is the premium destination to enjoy the many attractions of historic and lively downtown Fort Myers.

Fort Myers’ Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods is annually rated as one of Florida’s top vacation destinations. Located just two hours south of Tampa, Lee County’s Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel are home to white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, superior sea shells, exotic wildlife and lush foliage. Enjoy the quiet, natural setting in between exciting, must-see action at the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off. For more information, visit www.VisitFortMyers.com.

Nationally recognized brands have also aligned themselves with the high-profile nature of the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off. Rocket Mortgage returns as the fifth-year title sponsor of the event and Lee County returns as the host partner of the event. They are joined this year by premium brands Old Trapper Beef Jerky, State Farm, Libman and O’Reilly Auto Parts.

Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Palms Division Team Quick Facts

LIU Sharks
Conference: NEC
Head Coach: Rod Strickland
2021-22 record (conference): 16-14 (12-6)
2022 Conference Tournament: Lost in semifinals
All-Time NCAA Tournament Appearances: 7
Top Returning Scorer: Isaac Kante (12.0 ppg)

Northern Illinois Huskies
Conference: MAC
Head Coach: Rashon Burno
2021-22 record (conference): 9-21 (6-14)
2022 Conference Tournament: N/A
All-Time NCAA Tournament Appearances: 3
Top Returning Scorer: Keshawn Williams (16.3 ppg)

South Dakota Coyotes
Conference: Summit League
Head Coach: Eric Peterson
2021-22 record (conference): 19-12 (11-7)
2022 Conference Tournament: Lost in semifinals
All-Time NCAA Tournament Appearances: None
Top Returning Scorer: Kruz Perrott-Hunt (15.0 ppg)

Sam Houston Bearkats
Conference: WAC
Head Coach: Jason Hooten
2021-22 record (conference): 19-14 (13-5)
2022 Conference Tournament: Lost in second round
All-Time NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2
Top Returning Scorer: Jaden Ray (8.3 ppg)

Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Beach Division (Games Played Nov. 21 and 23)
Georgia Tech
Marquette
Mississippi State
Utah

Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off Palms Division (Games played Nov. 22 and 23)
LIU
Northern Illinois
Sam Houston
South Dakota