Mississippi State to play Arizona State at 2018 MGM Resorts Main Event

(Photo by Steve Roberts/Icon Sportswire)

Mississippi State will take on Arizona State at the 2018 MGM Resorts Main Event in Las Vegas.

This year’s event will take place from Nov. 19-21, with Saint Mary’s and Utah State set to face off in the other semifinal game.

Both the championship and consolation games are on Nov. 21.

The Bulldogs and Sun Devils have met only once before, as Arizona State scored a 70-69 victory back in 1988. Mississippi State is 2-1 all-time against Utah State and has split the only two meetings against Saint Mary’s.

Ben Howland returns his top six scorers from a season ago, with Quinndary Weatherspoon, Nick Weatherspoon, Aric Holman, and Lamar Peters all withdrawing from the 2018 NBA draft.

Howland will also add a top-15 recruiting class, which includes 4-star prospects Reggie Perry, Robert Woodard, and DJ Stewart.

The Bulldogs finished 25-12 overall this past season and advanced to the NIT final four before losing to eventual champion Penn State.