The Drake University men's basketball team will take on Belmont in the first round of the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando, Fla., event organizers announced Thursday. The game will be the first of three for the Bulldogs Nov. 25, 26 and 28 as part of an eight-team field that features five teams in the 2021 NCAA Tournament field.
 
The Bulldogs and Bruins are scheduled to tipoff Nov. 25 at 6/6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN2 or ESPNU. Drake will then face either Alabama or Iona in its second game Nov. 26. The Bulldogs Nov. 28 opponent will be either Kansas, Dayton, Miami or North Texas.
 
Belmont is coming off a 26-4 season and has won 20 conference titles since 2006.
 
The 2021 ESPN Events Invitational, a bracket-format tournament, will feature 12 games over three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in a championship match Sunday, Nov. 28.
 
All games will air on ESPN, ESPN, or ESPNU.
 
Ticket information and travel packages will be announced later this summer. Fans can sign up on the event website for a pre-sale to guarantee first access and a $10 discount on all price levels. Travel packages, which include a discounted rate at the Gaylord Palms Resort as well as transportation to/from the arena, will soon be available via Anthony Travel. To learn more and sign up for notifications, visit https://book.anthonytravel.com/d/espn-events-invitational.