GONZAGA AND MICHIGAN STATE MEN’S & WOMEN’S DOUBLEHEADER TO HEADLINE THE 2026 ACRISURE SERIES

National Powerhouses Set for Marquee Holiday Showcase in the Greater Palm Springs Area on December 19, 2026

The Acrisure Series returns to the Coachella Valley this December with one of the premier holiday events in college basketball as Gonzaga Bulldogs men’s basketball and Michigan State Spartans men’s basketball, along with the women’s basketball programs from the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Michigan State Spartans, will meet in a major men’s and women’s doubleheader on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at Acrisure Arena. The 2026 Acrisure Series is presented by Acrisure, Visit Greater Palm Springs and Spotlight 29 Casino.

Purchase Tickets through ticketmaster July 15 at 10:00 am PT.

This showcase will feature two of college basketball’s premier brands on one of the sport’s biggest December stages. With elite programs and passionate fan bases, the Gonzaga vs. Michigan State doubleheader is expected to be one of the marquee non-conference events of the holiday season.

Tickets for the December 19 showcase featuring Gonzaga vs. Michigan State men’s basketball and Gonzaga vs. Michigan State women’s basketball will go on sale July 15 at 10:00 am PT at Ticketmaster.com, the official ticketing provider of Acrisure Arena, and at the Ticketmaster Box Office at Acrisure Arena with exclusive presale access for club members beginning today. Additional event details, including official tip-off times and premium hospitality options, will be announced when available. Admission for Gonzaga vs. Michigan State women’s and men’s doubleheader will include access to both games under one ticket package. Additional event details, including courtside seating, suites, and group sales opportunities, will be announced when available.

The Spartans expect to be led by a pair of fourth-year players in All-American guard Jeremy Fears Jr. and electric senior forward Coen Carr. Fears was an All-Big Ten First Team selection, earned five All-American honors and led the team in scoring (15.2 ppg) and the nation in assists (9.4 apg). Carr, one of the most electric players in college basketball, was third on the team in scoring (12.0 ppg) and third in rebounds (5.4 rpg). MSU returns five of its top eight scorers from last year, added senior center Anton Bonke and welcomes a four-player freshman class that was ranked among the top-10 in the country.

Gonzaga Bulldogs men’s basketball enters the 2026–27 season coming off another elite year, finishing 31–4 and capturing its 27th West Coast Conference championship. As the program prepares for its transition into the Pac-12 Conference, the Bulldogs are already projected among the nation’s top teams, landing No. 9 in The Sporting News’ Way-Too-Early rankings. Head coach Mark Few returns a strong core led by Braden Huff, who is expected to be the focal point of Gonzaga’s offense after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for the final 17 games of last season. Rising stars Davis Fogle and Mario Saint-Supery also headline a talented returning group, with both poised for major breakout seasons after strong finishes to last year. Gonzaga has also added an impressive incoming class featuring transfer Isiah Harwell, top-40 recruit Luca Foster, 7-foot Mississippi standout Sam Funches, and international guard Jack Kayil, giving the Bulldogs one of the most balanced and intriguing rosters in the country heading into the new season.

Gonzaga Bulldogs women’s basketball enters the 2026–27 season following its 16th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after capturing its 11th West Coast Conference Tournament championship last season. The Bulldogs finished 24–10 overall and 14–4 in WCC play, while head coach Lisa Fortier recorded her 11th 20-win season and surpassed 300 career victories, moving within four wins of becoming the winningest coach in program history. Gonzaga returns one of the top duos in the country in Allie Turner and Lauren Whittaker. Whittaker emerged as one of the nation’s premier freshmen, averaging more than 19 points and 10 rebounds per game while earning both WCC Freshman of the Year and WCC Player of the Year honors. Turner earned All-WCC First Team recognition after another standout season, tying the program’s single-game record with nine made three-pointers while finishing first nationally in free throw percentage and ranking among the top shooters in the country from beyond the arc.

This December showcase continues the Acrisure Series tradition of bringing elite college basketball to the Greater Palm Springs area and further establishes the Coachella Valley as one of the premier destinations in the country for major non-conference college basketball events.

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