Michigan State VS Gonzaga in 2022 Armed Forces Classic Game on USS Abraham Lincoln (Basketball)

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State’s men’s basketball team will play Gonzaga in the 2022 Armed Forces Classic on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the San Diego harbor on Veterans Day.

The game will be televised on Friday, Nov. 11 in primetime on ESPN.

This is the second time playing a game on the deck of an aircraft carrier. In the 2011 Carrier Classic, Michigan State faced North Carolina on the USS Carl Vinson, also in San Diego harbor. That successful inaugural event included then-President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama sitting courtside for the game among the service men and women.

“When we played a game on the deck of an aircraft carrier just over 10 years ago to help honor Veteran’s Day, we thought it might be a once-in-a-lifetime type of experience,” MSU Head Coach Tom Izzo said. “I know our team, our players, our coaches and staff and Michigan State Athletics is very excited about getting the opportunity to play a tremendous program like Gonzaga on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln and honoring all of those who serve in our military. This game is big for our program, for Michigan State University and for the Big Ten Conference.

“The experience we had in 2011 when we played North Carolina on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson was one of the most humbling experiences of my career. Obviously, we wanted to win and any game against a program like that is very special, but to me, the game was about so much more than just a win or a loss.

“This opportunity to play on an aircraft carrier in front of men and women who serve in the military and are willing to put their lives on the line is an experience that is going to mean something to the young men who will play in the game for a long, long time. I said it last time and I’ll say it again, we’re going to play one of the best teams in the country and we’re going to be hosted by the No. 1 team in the world.”

Michigan State also participated in the inaugural Armed Forces Classic in 2012. The Spartans played Connecticut at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany in a C-5 transport airline hangar.

“We are honored to have the unique opportunity to stage the Armed Forces Classic on the USS Abraham Lincoln,” said Clint Overby, Vice President, ESPN Events. “First and foremost, we want to thank the men and women of the Navy, and the entire Armed Forces, for allowing us into their world to share their stories and to thank them for their service to our country. We will work with the teams, the Navy and our collective Events group to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants and spectators.”

Gonzaga is appearing in its second Armed Forces Classic after playing Pittsburgh in the 2015 event at U.S. Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan.

“We are extremely honored to be a part of the Armed Forces Classic,” Gonzaga head coach Mark Few said. “This is a special opportunity for our program to support those who fight for our country in our own small way. We’re excited to face an incredible program in Michigan State and a great colleague in Coach Izzo. I’m sure this will be a great memory for all of us.”

Owned and operated by ESPN Events, the Armed Forces Classic was created a decade ago as part of ESPN’s annual America’s Heroes: Salute to Veterans initiative, which dedicates a week of multiplatform programming for Veterans Day. Since 2012, this signature event has featured premier men’s college basketball programs competing on military bases and at Armed Services locations around the world. The 2022 game between Gonzaga and Michigan State on the USS Abraham Lincoln will be the first Armed Forces Classic event since 2019.

The game will be the sixth all-time meeting between Michigan State and Gonzaga, with the Spartans leading the all-time series, 4-1. MSU won the last game, 74-67, on the road during the 2011-12 season. The teams have played twice on neutral floors, the last a 106-103 overtime win for the Spartans in the Maui Invitational.

Source:  https://msuspartans.com/news/2022/7/13/m-basketball-michigan-state-to-play-gonzaga-in-2022-armed-forces-classic-game.aspx