University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders to Open With Furman at ESPN Events Invitational
08/12/2025 | Men's Basketball
RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond will face Furman in the first round of the Imagination Bracket at the Terry's Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational on November 27, ESPN announced Tuesday. The game will tip at 11 AM and be televised on ESPN2. It will be Richmond's first Thanksgiving Day game since November 25, 2021 vs Maryland.
The other first-round matchup features Illinois State and Charlotte. The winners of those games will meet in the championship on November 28 at 3 PM on ESPN2, with the third-place game airing on ESPN Plus at 12:30 PM.
The event will be held at the State Farm Field House at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. Tickets for all three brackets are now on sale. All tickets include two back-to-back games within the same bracket, and all tickets will include reserved seat assignments. There will be no general admission tickets. Experience Kissimmee is offering discounted rates at nearby hotels for the ESPN Events Invitational.
The Spiders have faced Furman 55 times, with the Paladins holding a 33-22 edge in the series. The programs haven't met since 1976, Richmond's final year as a member of the Southern Conference. Last year, Furman finished 25-10, reaching the championship game of the Southern Conference Tournament and making an appearance in the NIT.
The other first-round matchup features Illinois State and Charlotte. The winners of those games will meet in the championship on November 28 at 3 PM on ESPN2, with the third-place game airing on ESPN Plus at 12:30 PM.
The event will be held at the State Farm Field House at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. Tickets for all three brackets are now on sale. All tickets include two back-to-back games within the same bracket, and all tickets will include reserved seat assignments. There will be no general admission tickets. Experience Kissimmee is offering discounted rates at nearby hotels for the ESPN Events Invitational.
The Spiders have faced Furman 55 times, with the Paladins holding a 33-22 edge in the series. The programs haven't met since 1976, Richmond's final year as a member of the Southern Conference. Last year, Furman finished 25-10, reaching the championship game of the Southern Conference Tournament and making an appearance in the NIT.
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