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The O2 to host US college basketball match in 2020

The O2 Arena in London is to host a US college basketball game between Michigan and Kentucky in December 2020.

The match at the 20,000-capacity venue is part of a three-year deal that also spans a home-and-home series between the two NCAA teams.

The arrangement means that the universities will trade games against one another on campus at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor in 2021 and at Kentucky’s Rupp Arena in 2022.

Details on the date, game time, television partner, ticket pricing, ancillary events and ticket on-sale will be announced in January 2020.

“When the idea of playing Kentucky came up, we knew it would be an exciting opportunity, not only for ourselves, but for our fans as well,” Michigan coach Juwan Howard said.

“What a unique three-game series. First, we get to showcase collegiate basketball overseas in London before playing that traditional home-and-home series in front of two of the nation’s best basketball environments.”

Kentucky have so far won five out of seven matchups between the two teams, having most recently beat Michigan in a 2014 Elite Eight game.

Image: Bernt Rostad