UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State men’s basketball team will participate in the 2016 Tip-Off Tournament, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday. The annual NCAA men’s exempt tournament sponsored by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will take place Saturday, Nov. 19, and Sunday, Nov. 20, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Eight schools will compete in two four-team brackets with campus round games leading up to the Mohegan Sun Arena contests.
Teams scheduled to participate in the 2016 Tip-Off tournament are: University at Albany (American East Conference), Brown University (Ivy League), University of Cincinnati (American Athletic Conference), Duke University (Atlantic Coast Conference), Grand Canyon University (Western Athletic Conference), Marist College (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference), Penn State (Big Ten Conference) and University of Rhode Island (Atlantic 10 Conference).
“We look forward to the opportunity to play in the 2016 Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena,” Patrick Chambers, Penn State head coach, said. “The tournament boasts a strong field and will provide an exceptional test for our team early in the season. This event is sure to be among the highlights of our non-conference schedule."
Penn State will host Marist (Nov. 11) and Grand Canyon (Nov. 15) in the Bryce Jordan Center as part of the on-campus series of games. The Nittany Lions will then take on Duke Saturday, Nov. 19, followed by either Cincinnati or Rhode Island Sunday, Nov. 20.
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will continue to serve as the host conference for the annual event. The MAAC has developed a strong partnership with the Basketball Hall of Fame, including the addition of a MAAC exhibit in the Hall of Fame museum in Springfield, Massachusetts.
“The Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Mohegan Sun has become one of the most competitive collegiate events in the month of November,” said John L. Doleva, president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “With the combination of elite talent and schools in close proximity to the venue, we’re sure to have a great crowd and tremendous atmosphere for the fans.”
Penn State last participated in the Tip-Off Tournament in 2011, falling to then-No. 2 Kentucky and defeating South Florida in the consolation game. The Nittany Lions are 14-19 against the other three teams in the Naismith Bracket: Cincinnati (1-0), Duke (1-8) and Rhode Island (12-11).
General public tickets to the games at Mohegan Sun will go on sale Friday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m. ET via all Ticketmaster outlets and the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. Broadcast information and game times will be announced at later date. For more information, please visit www.halloffametipoff.com.