Zags to Battle Arizona

This has been known for a year or two, but Gonzaga officially will take on Arizona in the Battle in Seattle on Dec. 17th. GU is 0-3 vs. Arizona, including a 69-64 loss in 2008, the most recent clash in Phoenix. Spokane pre-sale tickets will be available Sept. 10.

More below.

Also, several Zags from the men’s and women’s teams will be signing autographs during Hoopfest. Here’s the schedule.

Press release:

Spokane, Wash. – Idol Sports & Entertainment announced this morning that Gonzaga will take on the University of Arizona on December 17 ^th in the State Farm Battle in Seattle.

The event will take place at KeyArena and will feature two of the most successful programs on the West Coast, both of whom won their conference titles in 2010-11.  Arizona is coming off a trip to the Elite 8, nearly reaching the Final Four.

The Seattle event will be the fourth all time meeting between the teams, with Arizona winning all three of the previous contests.  The two teams last faced each other Dec 14 ^th 2008 in Phoenix, AZ with the Wildcats defeating the Zags 69-64.

Tickets for the State Farm Battle in Seattle will go on sale Sept. 17 ^th at all Ticketmaster outlets. The Spokane only pre-sale will take place on Sept. 10 ^th through Spokane-area Ticketmaster outlets.

2011 will mark the 9 ^th contest in the history of the event. The State Farm Battle in Seattle games have been the largest college basketball games in the state of Washington since 2003. In 2008, the game set the State’s attendance record for a regular season college basketball game with a sold out crowd of 16,763 when the Bulldogs played against the Connecticut Huskies.

Mark Few and company have a 4-4 record in State Farm Battle in Seattle games.  The Bulldogs have scored victories over Missouri (2003), UMass (2004), Oklahoma State (2005), and Davidson (2009).

For more information visit www.battleinseattle.com .