Gonzaga-West Virginia To Launch ESPN'S Tip-off Marathon Nov. 12

                SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University and West Virginia University will be the first of 11 games as part of ESPN's College Hoops Tip-off Marathon Monday, Nov. 12, at 9 p.m. Pacific Time, from the McCarthey Athletic Center.

                The game is a re-match of last spring's NCAA Tournament Second Round match-up that saw the Bulldogs down the Mountaineers 77-54 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

                The showcase event to launch the collegiate basketball season on ESPN began in November, 2008, and this will be the Bulldogs fourth straight appearance in the Tip-off Marathon. Last season Gonzaga defeated Washington State University in the McCarthey Athletic Center 89-81. The 2010-11 season saw the Zags fall to San Diego State University 79-76 at home as part of the CBE Classic, and in the fall of 2009 Gonzaga lost a hard-fought 75-71 decision at Michigan State University.

                Gonzaga went 26-7 overall and 13-3 in the West Coast Conference last season while West Virginia finished 19-14 after going 9-9 in the BIG EAST,  both teams earning at-large bids into the NCAA Tournament. The meeting was the first between the schools. The Bulldogs appeared in their 14^th straight NCAA Tournament a year ago, while WVU was in its seventh tourney in the past eight years, including a trip to the 2010 Final Four.

2012 ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon Schedule

(All Times Pacific Time Zone)

Monday - November 12, 2012

• 9 p.m. - West Virginia @ Gonzaga
• 11 p.m. - Davidson @ New Mexico

 Tuesday - November 13, 2012

• 1 a.m. - Houston Baptist @ Hawaii
• 3 a.m. - Stony Brook @ Rider
• 5 a.m. - Northern Illinois @ Valparaiso
• 7 a.m. - Harvard @ Massachusetts
• 9 a.m. - Temple @ Kent State
• 11 a.m. - Detroit @ St. John's
• 1 p.m. - Butler @ Xavier
• 3 p.m. - College GameDay covered by State Farm (live from the Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA)
• 4 p.m. - Michigan State vs. Kansas (Champions Classic, Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA)
• (Approx 30 min following MSU/KU):  Duke vs Kentucky (Champions Classic, Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA)