Times for U-M/U-D Mercy, MSU/Oakland moved to avoid conflict with Lions game Dec. 16

The game times for The District Detroit College Basketball Showcase have been moved to prevent a conflict with the Detroit Lions’ game that day.

An Oakland University spokesman confirmed the Grizzlies’ game against Michigan State will move to 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 16, while the Michigan-Detroit Mercy game will tip off at noon. Both games at Little Caesars Arena will be broadcast on ESPNU.

Mark Hollis, MSU’s athletic director, expressed frustration last week that the Spartans-Grizzlies game was initially slated to start a half-hour before the Lions 4:30 p.m. game against the Chicago Bears that same day at Ford Field.

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“I think one of the big reasons you play in Detroit is to allow Spartan fans to have the opportunity to go down there and be part of a city that has a lot of positive things going on,” Hollis told the Free Press.

“One of those opportunities in the design of moving those games there was for fans of Michigan, fans of Michigan State to join Oakland and Detroit and be part of a big celebration. And knowingly, the Detroit Lions game was part of that celebration. To play either prior to or following (the Lions game) would have been ideal.

“But unfortunately, when there are only so many slots available on TV and they drop you in, I was surprised that that opportunity was taken away.”

Game times were set through the Horizon League’s TV deal with ESPN because Oakland and UD Mercy are the home teams, and Hollis said they were out of the schools’ control.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!