It goes something like this... teams are only allowed X non-conference games per year... a tournament doesn't count towards that limit. Having a "mainland" game before the "island" games (as part of the same tournament) therefore allows both MU and Colgate one extra non-con game.
There isn't a specific max on non-conference games.. that figure just falls out.
For at least the past several years, the max has been on regular season games - 29 OR 27 + a qualifying event. A qualifying event can be no more than four games... and must not span a range of more than 14 days. That can be bracket play, designated match ups or a combination. A bit stupid, but that's the deal.
With many tourneys having 8-team bracket play, the 'extra' game between two of the schools (or another school "included" in the event, but not in bracket play) allows a school to play 31 regular season games instead of 30.
