Bridgestone Arena is set to host the Middle Tennessee State University vs. Ole Miss Men’s Basketball game on Friday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. and it’s a game you won’t want to miss!

Middle Tennessee, hosting their fourth game at Bridgestone Arena in the last 11 seasons, looks to continue a hot streak that has seen the Blue Raiders win eight conference championships and make seven postseason appearances in the last nine years, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and first round wins in 2016 and 2017. MTSU's last trip to Bridgestone resulted in a thrilling, 88-81, win against the Auburn Tigers in Dec. of 2015.

The match-up sees Ole Miss Basketball Head Coach Kermit Davis face-off against his former team MTSU, his first time in opposition since his 2018 departure. Davis left MTSU after 16 seasons and received the distinction of all-time winningest coach in MTSU basketball program history. 

“We’re really looking forward to hosting Ole Miss at Bridgestone Arena,” MTSU Basketball Head Coach Nick McDevitt said. “It’s another great opportunity for our program to play in such a prominent venue against a team out of the Southeastern Conference. Games like this continue to put Middle Tennessee basketball on a national stage and we are very appreciative of Coach Davis, his staff and their willingness to continue this great series with us.”

“It’s important for our programs to have a presence in Nashville and playing at Bridgestone Arena gives us a first-class venue against an SEC opponent to showcase our men’s basketball program,” MTSU Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said. “We’re always excited about these games at Bridgestone and there are a lot of storylines involved with (Ole Miss Head Coach) Kermit Davis’ return to the mid-state. I think this will be a fun game for everyone and we are looking forward to Dec. 21.”

“With mixed emotions we look forward to playing Middle Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena,” Ole Miss Head Men’s Basketball Coach Kermit Davis said. “There were some great moments at Bridgestone while I was at Middle Tennessee, beating Vanderbilt and Auburn. Here at Ole Miss, we have a great alumni base in the Nashville area, and Middle Tennessee has drawn really well at Bridgestone. I know we will have a really good crowd for that game and hope that Rebel Nation will be with us.”