Michigan St To Face Globetrotters

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) â€” Defending national champion Michigan State gets a new challenge in November â€” a home game against the Harlem Globetrotters. <br><br>``This game is an exciting opportunity

Monday, July 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) â€” Defending national champion Michigan State gets a new challenge in November â€” a home game against the Harlem Globetrotters.

``This game is an exciting opportunity for our fans and will be a competitive challenge for our team,'' Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Monday. ``The NCAA national champions playing against the world famous Harlem Globetrotters is the matchup of a lifetime.''

The game is Nov. 12, and the Globetrotters will play at Purdue two days later. Both games will be played under NCAA rules, Globetrotters owner Mannie Jackson said.

The Globetrotters are lining up other games against college teams as part of a fall tour.

In April, the Globetrotters beat the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Stars 82-80 on a last-second shot. That game, played at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, opened a three-year contract between the NABC and the Globetrotters, whose routines have entertained millions since their first game in 1927. It calls for a game to be played in conjunction with the Final Four each year.

The Globetrotters haven't lost since Sept. 12, 1995.