The Basketball Hall of Fame College Series, a collection of multi-game events, will feature four Maryland schools in its doubleheader game at CFG Bank Arena on Monday Nov 3.
The series, owned and operated by Position Sports, highlights top collegiate non-conference basketball teams while they play at a neutral site.
The Baltimore series will feature University of Maryland vs. Coppin State University at 6:30 p.m. and Loyola vs. Towson at 9 p.m.
Position Sports President Melissa Meacham-Grossman said bringing together four Maryland-based schools—each in different collegiate conference—was a natural choice given the state’s deep basketball roots.
“Maryland, and specifically Baltimore, has been a hotbed for basketball for decades,” Meacham-Grossman said. “From some of the most legendary high school programs in the country to once being home to an NBA franchise, the region is synonymous with basketball at the highest levels.”
“Much like Philadelphia has its annual Big Five events, we feel this is a great opportunity to show off the great college teams in Maryland,” she said.
Looking ahead, Meacham-Grossman said the organization will evaluate the success of this year’s games before determining whether the event could become an annual Baltimore tradition.
Loyola senior Garrett Brennan, who plays small forward for Loyola, said the team is looking forward to the Towson game.
“It’s one of the first times we played in a non-home game for either team in a neutral site arena,” Brennan said. “So I’m looking forward to kind of having a neutral field where there’s not a home team per se in the game.”
Brennan said the game carries added weight because of the local connection between the two programs, especially with the schools located just a few miles apart.
“It’s a little bit of a higher stakes game just for those types of bragging rights within your city,” he said. “It’s just a great opportunity to kind of emphasize the importance of Baltimore and its city in general and just go at each other in good spirits, but compete as hard as you can.”
The Loyola team is kicking off the season under second-year head coach Josh Loeffler, focusing on cohesion and chemistry. Brennan said that mindset will be key on game day.
“Building on each other’s energy throughout the game is going to give us the best chance to win,” Brennan said.
Similarly, the Towson men’s basketball team is homing in on fundamentals against a local rival. With a blend of returning and new players, the Tigers have been working on developing a strong foundation for the season.
“We are working in the gym every day preparing for this game. We knew once the schedule was finalized that all focus was on November 3,” said Ryan Field, a Towson men’s basketball representative.
Field said the key to winning the game is obtaining the ball.
“We need to take care of the ball and score the ball,” said Field. “Loyola is a tough opponent, and being a cross-town rival adds an extra element to the game.”
Field said the fans are excited to watch the game and support their school.
“We have the best fans in the Baltimore area and we know they have been eager to watch us again. Our hope is to represent them well and come away with a win for our fans,” he said.
To learn more about the Basketball Hall of Fame College Series, visit hofseries.com.
