ASU men’s basketball announces preseason exhibition vs. Texas A&M

ASU men’s basketball will play Texas A&M in Houston as part of a preseason exhibition doubleheader between Big 12 and SEC programs, the teams announced Thursday.

The game will take place on Oct. 26 at Fort Bend Epicenter. Defending national runner-up Houston will play Mississippi State after the Sun Devils and Aggies face off.

The exhibition will be the first time since 2014 ASU and Texas A&M have played each other. A&M came out on top in College Station, 72-71.

The NCAA instituted a new rule in January permitting teams to play up to two Division 1 opponents each preseason.

Teams previously were known to play more limited “secret scrimmages” and could only let fans in for exhibitions if the proceeds went to charity. Last year’s ASU exhibition at Duke benefitted Duke Children’s Hospital.

ASU’s roster will look almost entirely different this season with many being transfers and only midseason pickup Trevor Best returning. Moe Odum is projected to be the starting point guard after being top five in the country in assists per game last year (7.5).

Coach Bobby Hurley is entering the last year of his contract.

No other exhibition matches have been announced by the Sun Devils, but several nonconference games have been reported.

They include:

• vs. Gonzaga
• at UCLA
• vs. Oklahoma (PHX Arena)
• vs. Texas (Maui Invitational opener)
• vs. Oregon State.

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