NORFOLK, Va. – The HBCU Tip-Off Championship slated for the opening weekend of the season has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, tournament organizers announced.

The Norfolk State men's basketball team will instead play a road game at Texas Southern on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. EST. The game will mark the start of a home-and-home, with the Tigers set to come back to Norfolk sometime during the 2014-15 season.

The Spartans were scheduled to begin the season on Nov. 8 against Texas Southern in Atlanta. Norfolk State was also scheduled to play Arkansas-Pine Bluff the next day. Those games were set to be played at Phillips Arena as part of the first-ever HBCU championship, which has now been postponed until 2014.

"In order to maintain the ability to deliver our program now and in the future, it became necessary to postpone until 2014," said HBCU Tip-Off Championship CEO Kevin Clayton. "We remain committed to building awareness and support for the HBCU community, its student-athletes and athletic programs."

The Norfolk State athletics department is currently in the process of lining up a replacement game for that same Nov. 8-10 weekend. Details will be announced once they become finalized.