Michigan State basketball exhibition game vs. Tennessee benefits Maui

Michigan State basketball and Tennessee are taking their “secret scrimmage” to the public – for a good cause.

The Spartans will host the Volunteers on Oct. 29 at Breslin Center for an exhibition game, with all proceeds going to the Hawai’i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund, providing financial resources to the relief efforts from the devastating Maui wildfires. Further details, including ticket information, game time and broadcast information, will be announced at a later date.

MSU is scheduled to play in the 2024 Maui Invitational, which would be its sixth appearance and first since 2019. Coach Rick Barnes’ Tennessee program has played in the tournament at Lahaina Civic Center three times.

“The Maui Invitational and the city of Lahaina have always held a special place in my heart,” Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo said. “The images we’ve all seen and the stories we’ve heard following the wildfires have touched so many of us in the college basketball world and I know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been affected.

“We’ve had plans to scrimmage Rick’s team since last fall and we spoke about what we could do to help and honor the city of Lahaina and the people there who are in need. I’m hopeful that our Spartan family will pack the Breslin Center for what will be a great game, but will have an even greater mission, and that’s to help the Lahaina community as much as we can.”

The two teams scrimmaged last year at Tennessee, and Izzo and Barnes have been friends for decades.

“First, I appreciate coach Izzo and Michigan State for hosting this game, which will benefit a community that means so much to the world of college basketball,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said in a statement. “While we certainly need to continue to pray for the families in Maui who have been impacted, this benefit game will enable us to offer tangible support toward the restoration of Maui and its beautiful spirit.”

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Michigan State won its first trip to the Maui Invitational in 1991 under coach Jud Heathcote, with Izzo as an assistant. Izzo’s head coaching debut came in the 1995 event as he defeated Chaminade, 69-66, to begin his 28-year Hall of Fame coaching career.

“Our program at Michigan State has had the opportunity to visit the island five different times and I’ll never forget the feelings I had when we arrived and when I walked on to the floor at the Lahaina Civic Center to start my career,” Izzo said. “It’s one of the most special events in college basketball and it’s because of the people who put it on and the city that embraces and welcomes all of us.”

This is MSU’s second high-profile exhibition game to be used as a relief effort. In 2017, the Spartans faced Georgia in Grand Rapids, and proceeds from that game went to help hurricane relief in Georgia and then-MSU guard…