UGA Basketball to take on Michigan State in exhibition Sunday

The University of Georgia announced on Monday that the Bulldogs will travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan this Sunday to take on Michigan State in an exhibition. The NCAA approved the contest on Monday with all of the proceeds going to relief efforts for Hurricane Irma.

"This is a unique opportunity allowed this year by the NCAA to help with disaster relief," head coach Mark Fox said. "With our fans headed to Jacksonville, the only option to really help was to play a road game. We had schools contact us but adding a road game in short notice seemed more difficult than needed. But this is an opportunity to help the people of the state of Georgia. Hurricane Irma had a significant impact on the DawgNation. So with generous support from President Morehead and Greg McGarity, we have arranged to play at Michigan State. I want to thank Coach Izzo and the administration of MSU for helping to put this together so quickly."

The two schools will split the proceeds from the game with the Bulldogs donating to the American Red Cross of Georgia.

The game will serve as a homecoming for current Bulldogs Yante Maten and Mike Edwards. Maten hails from Pontiac while Edwards is from Westland. Georgia has faced the Spartans just once previously in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Michigan State won that game 70-63.

The Spartans will be a tough test for the Bulldogs. Tom Izzo’s club is bolstered by the return of 6-7 forward Miles Bridges for his sophomore season. Bridges averaged 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season. Michigan State has a talented roster and figures to once again be in the thick of things in the Big Ten race.

Game time is set for 2 p.m.