The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Basketball to Play Four Games in 2011 2K Sports Classic
September 29 | Men's Basketball
2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer Official Web Site
Purchase Men's Basketball Season Tickets | 2011-12 Men's Basketball Schedule
PRINCETON, N.J. – An ESPNU contest at Mississippi State, road games against Valparaiso and Duquesne, and a home game against Hiram highlight The University of Akron men's basketball team's schedule for the 2011 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer.
"Mississippi State is one of the most talented teams in the country and this will be a challenging game at their place," eighth year head coach Keith Dambrot said. "Valparaiso is a 20-win team and Duquesne won 19 games last season. Both should provide a good test, especially playing at Valpo."
The Zips will open the 2011-12 campaign on the road in Starksville, Miss., when they face off against the Bulldogs at the Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday, Nov. 9. The Starksville Regional Round contest will air live on ESPNU beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Akron won the only prior contest between the two teams, an 83-72 victory at the San Juan Shootout in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (Dec. 20, 2005).
UA will play host to Hiram at Rhodes Arena on Saturday, Nov. 12, in the second game of the tournament. The Zips are 40-3 all-time against Hiram, having won 35-straight contests.
"Playing Hiram is a good opportunity to give one of the local programs a chance to play at Rhodes Arena and to showcase their brand of basketball," Dambrot said.
Akron will then travel to Valparaiso, Ind., for the Valparaiso Subregional Rounds on Nov. 18-19. The squad will face off against host Valpo on Friday, Nov. 18, before wrapping up the weekend with a neutral court contest against Duquesne on Saturday, Nov. 19. Both games are set for a 5 p.m. ET tipoff. UA is 5-1 all-time against Valpo while Duquesne holds a 12-8 advantage over the Zips. Both squads advanced to the College Basketball Invitational last season.
The Zips will open practice on October 14 and will open the season with an exhibition contest against John Carroll at Rhodes Arena on Thursday, Nov. 4.
The 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer is the nation's premier season-opening college basketball tournament. Twelve teams from across the nation will compete in the event with four of the top teams in the country serving as regional hosts. Regional Round action takes place from Nov. 7-11 with the four hosts advancing to the Championship Rounds, Nov. 17-18, at New York's Madison Square Garden. The remainder of the field will participate in a round-robin series at one of two subregional sites. Thus, every participating team is guaranteed four games.
Since 1996, the Gazelle Group, producers of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, has raised almost $5 million to support the fight against cancer.
Click here for more information about the 2K Sports Classic and see the entire field and schedule.
