The Acrisure Series, a premier college basketball showcase, will open with a high‑stakes clash between Grand Canyon University and Saint Louis University on November 24 at 6:30 p.m. in Acrisure Arena in California.
A Battle of Top‑25 Contenders
Saint Louis, returning head coach Josh Schertz, finished last season 29‑6 and peaked at No. 18 in the national rankings. The Billikens bring back nine players, including five scorers who averaged between 9.1 and 10.7 points per game, and three A‑10 postseason honorees.
Roster Reinforcements
The frontcourt has been bolstered by transfers Elijah Strong, Alon Michaeli and Sheek Pearson, each of whom posted double‑digit scoring averages at their previous schools. These additions complement a core that reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in 12 years.
Potential Opponents
GCU’s second game could pit them against Stanford, a team they defeated 78‑71 in last year’s Acrisure Holiday Invitational, or against Colorado, a program they last faced in 2020. Both squads feature new coaches — Kyle Smith for Stanford and Tad Boyle for Colorado — and key transfers such as Aziz Olajuwon and Barrington Hargress.
Championship and Third‑Place Games
The winner of the GCU‑Saint Louis matchup will contest the championship at 6:30 p.m. on November 25, while the losers meet in a third‑place game at 9 p.m. The six‑team field runs from November 21 to 26, with tickets going on sale August 8 through Ticketmaster.
Broadcast and Ticket Sales
All games will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network, highlighting what event director Dan Shell calls the strongest Acrisure Series field ever assembled.