Pacers, Spurs to face off at Assembly Hall in preseason game

Hoosier Hysteria signaled the start of IU’s basketball season, and now NBA teams are getting in on the action.

The NBA’s Indiana Pacers will come to Bloomington to compete against the San Antonio Spurs in their final preseason game. The NBA contest will be the first for the Pacers in Assembly Hall since 1972, when the team was part of the American Basketball Association. 

IU Athletics first announced this game in August as a way to get fans excited about basketball season.

Tickets are being offered to students at discount prices of $10, instead of regular prices that go up to $150. 

While IU Athletics is using the game to drum up enthusiasm for the basketball season, the Pacers are using their final exhibition game to get ready for their year as well.

Their first regular season game is Oct. 28 against the Atlanta Hawks.

“We’re still trying to get the kinks out,” small forward Danny Granger said. “It’s supposed to be like a home game for us.”

Last season’s Most Improved Player also said the tradition of IU basketball and interaction with the fans is another draw.

“I hear basketball is really big at IU,” he said. “It’ll just be a lot of fun to play in a different venue than we’re accustomed to.”