LSU’s men’s basketball team will travel down to New Orleans to play Tulane in Devlin Fieldhouse for the first time in over 40 years. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31.
The two teams were granted a waiver by the NCAA to play a basketball game for charity with the proceeds going to the American Red Cross. The money will be donated to hurricane relief funds and help the victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate.
“We’re excited to partner with Tulane University and Louisiana State University on the upcoming charity basketball game,” said Regional CEO for the American Red Cross of Louisiana Joshua Joachim in a press release. “Louisianans are known for their generosity and this is just one more example of that. Our friends and neighbors who’ve been devastated by the hurricanes over this summer will benefit greatly from this generous gift from Tulane and LSU.”
General Admission tickets for the charity game are being sold for $5. The event will also include Halloween festivals for families and children.
“This is a cause that we are proud to support,” said Tulane Senior Associate Athletics Director for Administration Rob Bernardi. “Many of our student-athletes and their families endured the effects of the hurricanes. A Tulane and LSU basketball game is good for the city of New Orleans and a fun way to start the college basketball season.”
“There are a lot of schools taking advantage of it, and Tulane was a natural fit,” LSU Coach Will Wade said in a press release. “It’s always good for us to play in New Orleans. We reached out to Tulane and the NCAA allowed us to do it. We thought it was good to play an in-state school especially since our school has been affected by hurricanes and to help with hurricane relief.”
The two teams first met in 1911, and last played in 2008 in the New Orleans Arena.