Photo by: Craig Bisacre/Texas A&M Athletics
Basketball to Open ESPN Events Invitational vs. Penn State
Aug 08, 2023 | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Texas A&M men's basketball team opens play at the ESPN Events Invitational over the Thanksgiving weekend against Penn State on Thursday, Nov. 23 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, ESPN Events announced.
The opening-round matchup tips at 11 a.m. CT and airs on ESPN. The game is a rematch of last year's first-round NCAA Tournament game that saw the 10-seed Nittany Lions prevailing over the 7-seed Aggies, 76-59, in Des Moines, Iowa. The two teams have met five times previously with the Aggies holding a 4-1 advantage.
The Aggies will then face either Florida Atlantic or Butler on Nov. 24 in the second round. The final round takes place on Nov. 26 with possible opponents Iowa State, VCU, Boise State or Virginia Tech. All three days of action can be seen on the ESPN family of networks.
The full field at the ESPN Events Invitational includes Boise State, Butler, FAU, Iowa State, Penn State, VCU and Virginia Tech. Six of the eight teams in the Orlando field were in the 2023 NCAA Tournament field (Texas A&M, Boise State, FAU, Iowa State, Penn State and VCU) and both the Aggies and FAU were in the final 2023 Associated Press poll. In the ESPN.com's Way-Too-Early Top 25, the Owls were ranked No. 9 and the Aggies came in at No. 18.
Twelve total games will be contested by the eight-team field at the State Farm Field House Thursday, Nov. 23 through Sunday, Nov. 26. Each team competes in one game per day and the two teams that remain undefeated meet in a championship matchup on Sunday.
ESPN EVENTS INVITATIONAL
November 23, 24 and 26
State Farm Field House (ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, near Orlando, Fla.)
Texas A&M is coming off a record-setting 2022-23 campaign that saw the Aggies earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament field for the first time since 2018. The Maroon & White posted a 25-10 overall record last season, including a school-record 15 wins in SEC play. The Aggies placed second in the SEC regular season race and advanced to the finals of the SEC Tournament for a second-straight season.
This will be the 17th year of the tournament, one of 10 college basketball events on the ESPN Events roster of 32 college athletic competitions. Oklahoma won the most recent ESPN Events Invitational in 2022. Previous winners include Dayton in 2021 and 2011, Maryland in 2019, Villanova in 2018, West Virginia in 2017, Gonzaga in 2016, 2012 and 2008, Xavier in 2015, Kansas in 2014, Memphis in 2013, Notre Dame in 2010, Florida State in 2009, N.C. State in 2008 and Arkansas in 2007.
Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.
VIP Hospitality will go on sale at a later date. To sign up for updates, visit https://espnevents.com/espn-events-invitational/vip-hospitality.
Travel packages, which include a discounted rate at the Gaylord Palms Resort as well as transportation to/from the arena, will soon be available via Anthony Travel. To learn more and sign up for notifications visit https://book.anthonytravel.com/d/espn-events-invitational.
About ESPN Events:
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2023, the 32-event schedule includes four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, and a college softball event, in addition to a new a college gymnastics event coming in 2024. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, while reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.
About ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex:
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, is the premier site for amateur sports in the nation. The complex hosts more than 100 entertainment and sporting events each year and has accommodated 70 different sports featuring athletes from 70 different countries. Designed to provide professional, amateur and youth athletes with experiences synonymous with the names Disney and ESPN, the 220-acre facility features multiple competition venues, including 16 baseball/softball fields; a 9,500-seat ballpark; a state-of-the-art indoor arena, 17 multi-purpose outdoor fields for soccer, football and field hockey; three field houses for basketball, volleyball, and other indoor sports; a track & field facility; and a cross country course. The sports complex also contains a professional production center that produces content for the Disney family of networks and distributes programming globally through its extensive fiber network. For more information, visit www.disneysportsnews.com for news releases, photos and videos. Follow us on Twitter at @ESPNWWOS and on Facebook at ESPNWWOS.
About Experience Kissimmee:
Experience Kissimmee is the official tourism authority for Osceola County, Florida. Located at the heart of Central Florida, Kissimmee is 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO), minutes from world-famous theme parks and attractions, and nestled in carefully preserved outdoor spaces so visitors can reconnect with nature. Also known as the Vacation Home Capital of the World®, Kissimmee has sprawling resorts with thousands of options ranging from two-bedroom condos to 15-bedroom mansions.
The opening-round matchup tips at 11 a.m. CT and airs on ESPN. The game is a rematch of last year's first-round NCAA Tournament game that saw the 10-seed Nittany Lions prevailing over the 7-seed Aggies, 76-59, in Des Moines, Iowa. The two teams have met five times previously with the Aggies holding a 4-1 advantage.
The Aggies will then face either Florida Atlantic or Butler on Nov. 24 in the second round. The final round takes place on Nov. 26 with possible opponents Iowa State, VCU, Boise State or Virginia Tech. All three days of action can be seen on the ESPN family of networks.
The full field at the ESPN Events Invitational includes Boise State, Butler, FAU, Iowa State, Penn State, VCU and Virginia Tech. Six of the eight teams in the Orlando field were in the 2023 NCAA Tournament field (Texas A&M, Boise State, FAU, Iowa State, Penn State and VCU) and both the Aggies and FAU were in the final 2023 Associated Press poll. In the ESPN.com's Way-Too-Early Top 25, the Owls were ranked No. 9 and the Aggies came in at No. 18.
Twelve total games will be contested by the eight-team field at the State Farm Field House Thursday, Nov. 23 through Sunday, Nov. 26. Each team competes in one game per day and the two teams that remain undefeated meet in a championship matchup on Sunday.
ESPN EVENTS INVITATIONAL
November 23, 24 and 26
State Farm Field House (ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, near Orlando, Fla.)
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup/Event | Network |
| Thu, Nov. 23 | Noon | Penn State vs. Texas A&M | ESPN |
| 2:30 p.m. | Florida Atlantic vs. Butler | ESPN2 | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Iowa State vs. VCU | ESPN2 | |
| 8 p.m. | Boise State vs. Virginia Tech | ESPN2 or ESPNU | |
| Fri, Nov. 24 | 11 a.m. | Semifinal #1 | ESPN2 |
| 1:30 p.m. | Consolation Game #1 | ESPN+ | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Semifinal #2 | ESPN2 | |
| 8 p.m. | Consolation Game #2 | ESPNU | |
| Sun, Nov. 26 | 10:30 a.m. | Seventh Place Game | ESPNU |
| 1 p.m. | Championship Game | ESPN | |
| 4 p.m. | Fifth Place Game | ESPN2 | |
| 6:30 p.m. | Third Place Game | ESPN2 |
Texas A&M is coming off a record-setting 2022-23 campaign that saw the Aggies earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament field for the first time since 2018. The Maroon & White posted a 25-10 overall record last season, including a school-record 15 wins in SEC play. The Aggies placed second in the SEC regular season race and advanced to the finals of the SEC Tournament for a second-straight season.
This will be the 17th year of the tournament, one of 10 college basketball events on the ESPN Events roster of 32 college athletic competitions. Oklahoma won the most recent ESPN Events Invitational in 2022. Previous winners include Dayton in 2021 and 2011, Maryland in 2019, Villanova in 2018, West Virginia in 2017, Gonzaga in 2016, 2012 and 2008, Xavier in 2015, Kansas in 2014, Memphis in 2013, Notre Dame in 2010, Florida State in 2009, N.C. State in 2008 and Arkansas in 2007.
Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.
- All-Tournament tickets are available at a $15 discount through Friday, August 11 using the promo code "MAGIC"
- Single-Session tickets are available now for the Lower Center Court tier
- Single-session tickets for all other tiers will go on sale October 2
VIP Hospitality will go on sale at a later date. To sign up for updates, visit https://espnevents.com/espn-events-invitational/vip-hospitality.
Travel packages, which include a discounted rate at the Gaylord Palms Resort as well as transportation to/from the arena, will soon be available via Anthony Travel. To learn more and sign up for notifications visit https://book.anthonytravel.com/d/espn-events-invitational.
About ESPN Events:
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2023, the 32-event schedule includes four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, and a college softball event, in addition to a new a college gymnastics event coming in 2024. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, while reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.
About ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex:
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, is the premier site for amateur sports in the nation. The complex hosts more than 100 entertainment and sporting events each year and has accommodated 70 different sports featuring athletes from 70 different countries. Designed to provide professional, amateur and youth athletes with experiences synonymous with the names Disney and ESPN, the 220-acre facility features multiple competition venues, including 16 baseball/softball fields; a 9,500-seat ballpark; a state-of-the-art indoor arena, 17 multi-purpose outdoor fields for soccer, football and field hockey; three field houses for basketball, volleyball, and other indoor sports; a track & field facility; and a cross country course. The sports complex also contains a professional production center that produces content for the Disney family of networks and distributes programming globally through its extensive fiber network. For more information, visit www.disneysportsnews.com for news releases, photos and videos. Follow us on Twitter at @ESPNWWOS and on Facebook at ESPNWWOS.
About Experience Kissimmee:
Experience Kissimmee is the official tourism authority for Osceola County, Florida. Located at the heart of Central Florida, Kissimmee is 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO), minutes from world-famous theme parks and attractions, and nestled in carefully preserved outdoor spaces so visitors can reconnect with nature. Also known as the Vacation Home Capital of the World®, Kissimmee has sprawling resorts with thousands of options ranging from two-bedroom condos to 15-bedroom mansions.