Rocket City Classic to host two games in 2026
HUNTSVILLE- The 2026 Rocket City Classic has expanded to two games. The latest announcement from the Huntsville Sports Commission and the Von Bran Center included the fact besides the Dec. 15 matchup between Auburn and MTSU, a second game on Dec. 19 will include Mississippi State facing VCU.
Both games will be played in Propst Arena of the Von Bran Center. Presale for tickets begins on Friday, with the public on sale Monday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster and the Arena box office.
“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,” said Joel Lamp, Sports Development Manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Bulldogs from Miss. State, 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.
“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,” said Jans.
Miss. State will also feature Huntsville native R.J. Johnson, who joined the Bulldogs after a stellar junior season at Kennesaw State. The Grissom High School star was the centerpiece of KSU’s run to the Conference USA championship in the Propst Arena in March, earning tournament MVP honors in taking the Owls to the NCAA Tournament.
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 of last season.
“We are honored to take part in this game,” Martelli said. “It’s always great to play high-quality opponents in unique venues.”
For details on hospitality options, including courtside seats and suites, contact Lamp at jlamp@huntsville.org for more information.
