Mississippi State to take on VCU on December 19 at the Von Braun Center
TICKETS AVAILABLE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026, AT 10:00 A.M.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2026
Contact: Joel Lamp, jlamp@huntsville.org
HUNTSVILLE, AL – The Rocket City Classic is more than just a basketball game – it will be two games in 2026!
Mississippi State will take on Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), a perennial NCAA Tournament program that upset North Carolina in the first round last season, on December 19 at VBC Propst Arena. Presale for tickets begins on Friday, with the public on sale Monday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster and the Arena box office.
“We’ve built the Rocket City Classic over the years to have the feel of an NCAA Tournament game,” said Joel Lamp, Sports Development Manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Having two great programs like Mississippi State and VCU come to Huntsville for a neutral site game is the ideal setup for adding a game to the Classic this year. MSU has a strong alumni base in our area that we look forward to engaging with at this event.”
The Bulldogs, who have been to three of the last four NCAA Tournaments under Chris Jans, are led by Josh Hubbard, a preseason All-America and three-time All-SEC selection. He enters the 2026-27 season with 1947 career points, which rank 4th on State's all-time list, 4th among SEC players after their junior season, and 34th overall in SEC history.
“We look forward to competing against VCU in Huntsville at the Rocket City Classic,” Jans said. “VCU has a storied basketball tradition, and we have tremendous respect for Coach Phil Martelli Jr. and the job he did in his first season at VCU. They are considered the favorites to win the Atlantic 10, and we know they will have their team well prepared and competing at a high level. This will be an important game for us as our final opportunity to compete before Christmas break, and we’re excited to have so many Mississippi State alumni and supporters in and around the Huntsville area there with us. We look forward to a great atmosphere and a tremendous night of college basketball in Huntsville.”
MSU will also feature Huntsville native R.J. Johnson, who joined the Bulldogs after a stellar freshman season at Kennesaw State. The Grissom High School star was the centerpiece of KSU’s run to the Conference USA championship in Propst Arena in March, earning tournament MVP honors in taking the Owls to the NCAA Tournament.
“We are proud to add another game to the Rocket City Classic this year,” said Mark Russell, Executive Director of the Huntsville Sports Commission. “This is a major step forward for us to bring two great programs to Huntsville and provide a great experience for everyone in Propst Arena.”
VCU continued to set the standard for mid-major basketball last year, compiling a 28-8 record and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a late rally to force overtime in an eventual 82-78 win over North Carolina. The Rams enter their second season under head coach Phil Martelli Jr., looking for a repeat performance after winning the Atlantic 10 Conference and reaching the Final Four in 2011.
"We are honored to take part in this game,” Martelli said. “It's always great to play high-quality opponents in unique venues."
For hospitality options, including courtside seats and suites, contact Joel Lamp at jlamp@huntsville.org for more information.
