Texas accepts invite to play in CBI

Published Mar. 17, 2013 10:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

Texas and George Mason highlight the 16-team field for the sixth annual College Basketball Invitational.

Out of the NCAA tournament for the first time in 15 years, coach Rick Barnes and the Longhorns (16-17) aren't going to the NIT, either. Instead, they accepted an invite to the lower-level CBI and will play at Houston on Wednesday night in a matchup of former powers.

George Mason, the mid-major underdog that made a stunning run to the 2006 Final Four, goes on the road Tuesday night for its tournament opener against College of Charleston.

Other first-round games Tuesday are Vermont at Santa Clara; and Lehigh at Wyoming.

Then on Wednesday it's Western Illinois at Purdue; Tulsa at Wright State; Richmond at Bryant; and North Dakota State at Western Michigan.

All games are played at campus sites, and the championship round of the CBI is a best-of-three, beginning April 1. Previous champions were Pittsburgh (2012), Oregon (2011), VCU (2010), Oregon State (2009) and Tulsa (2008).