SAN DIEGO – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the field of teams for the fourth annual Basketball Hall of Fame Classic presented by Citi, a college basketball showcase at STAPLES Center on Saturday, December 21, 2019. The one-day doubleheader will feature San Diego State University vs. the University of Utah and Louisiana State University vs. the University of Southern California.
"We are excited to play in the Los Angeles market and know that we will have a tremendous turnout from our fans," said head coach Brian Dutcher. "Having a neutral-site contest against a high-level Pac-12 opponent in the STAPLES Center is a great opportunity and we look forward to playing in this Hall of Fame event."
"The Basketball Hall of Fame Classic is a wonderful opportunity for college hoop fans to catch a doubleheader in one of the most iconic basketball venues in the world," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "In partnership with Citi, AEG and STAPLES Center, we look forward to hosting another terrific college showcase and providing an exceptional experience to fans and our participating teams."
San Diego State is participating in the Basketball Hall of Fame (BHOF) Classic for the first time in the events four-year history, and the game marks the first time SDSU has played in STAPLES Center, which opened on October 17, 1999.
The matchup with the Utes will be the 74th in the series, which began in the 1975-76 season. Utah holds a 54-19 advantage overall and won the last meeting 81-76, on November 16, 2015, when Utes were ranked 16th in the nation. That victory snapped an Aztecs' six-game winning streak in which they had defeated Utah by an average of 11 points per game.
The BHOF Classic game will be the eighth time the schools have met on a neutral court. Utah holds a 5-2 series lead, but in the last meeting on a neutral court, SDSU defeated the Utes 64-50 in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas.
The Aztecs return six of their top nine scorers off a team that posted a 21-13 record and advanced to the championship game of the Mountain West Conference tournament in 2019. San Diego State is one of just nine schools nationally to win at least 19 games each of the last 14 seasons and is one of 29 schools to play in seven of the last 10 NCAA tournaments.
Tickets for the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic will go on sale to the general public on June 6 and fans are encouraged to contact the SDSU ticket office at (619) 283-7378 to purchase tickets.
In addition, the renewal period for season tickets is currently underway. Fans wishing to be added to the waitlist may do so now by also contacting the SDSU ticket office at (619) 283-7378.