KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Drake men's basketball is set to play in the 2026 Hall of Fame Classic from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced on Thursday.

The neutral-site event will serve as a doubleheader on December 18 with Drake battling Wichita State and Iowa State taking on Missouri State. Specific game times, ticket details and broadcast assignments will be announced soon.

Drake will be making its first-ever Hall of Fame Classic appearance, while Wichita State most recently competed in the Hall of Fame Classic in 2024. The 2026 Hall of Fame Classic will mark the event's 26th year of operation in Kansas City, and its second time to be structured as a neutral-site doubleheader.

The 2026 Hall of Fame Classic brings two former Missouri Valley Conference rivals back to the hardwood between the Bulldogs and Shockers. Drake and Wichita State played 135 games as MVC foes with the all-time conference record in favor of the Shockers, 43-92. The overall series record also sees Wichita State in the lead, 104-48. Drake is 2-3 all-time in neutral site contests against Wichita State.

The last time the two sides met, however, came in the 2021 NCAA Tournament First Four where Drake came away with a thrilling 53-52 victory. The No.11 seed Bulldogs battled back from a 12-point first half deficit and were led by Joseph Yesufu's 21 points to win their first NCAA Tournament game in 50 years.

Drake and Wichita State, two programs well versed with each other, did participate in a Charity Scrimmage from Wichita last season as well.

The Hall of Fame Classic is operated by the Kansas City-based NABC. More information on the event can be found at nabc.com/classic.