News

We are excited to announce Utah State University and Utah Valley University will compete against Illinois State University and University of California, Santa Barbara in the Salt Lake Slam at Delta Center on Friday, December 13, 2025. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 26 at 10 am. Please find the official announcement below.

Salt Lake Slam to Host Exciting Men’s Basketball Doubleheader at Delta Center on December 13, 2025

Local programs from Utah State University and Utah Valley University to compete against Illinois State University and University of California, Santa Barbara

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – [9/23/25] – Basketball fans will want to mark their calendars for Saturday, December 13, 2025, as Delta Center, home of the Utah Jazz (NBA) and Utah Mammoth (NHL), in Salt Lake City welcomes elite college hoops action. The day will feature a doubleheader event – the Salt Lake Slam – matching Utah Valley University with University of California, Santa Barbara, and Utah State University with Illinois State University.

This event, organized by Russ Potts Productions, Inc., offers a great opportunity for local fans to see some of Utah’s best programs compete all in the same arena right before the holidays. The first game features Utah Valley, a rapidly ascending program from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) that was recently in the NIT, pitted against UC Santa Barbara, a consistent contender from the Big West Conference with its own history of NCAA Tournament bids.

“We’re thrilled to bring Utah Valley basketball to Delta Center for the Salt Lake Slam. It’s an incredible venue, and our players are excited for the chance to compete on a stage that has hosted so many great moments in Utah sports history. This event is a great opportunity to showcase Utah Valley basketball on a big stage, and we can’t wait to represent our university and community,” said Todd Phillips, Utah Valley Head Coach.

The Utah Valley Wolverines and the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos last met on the hardwood 17 years ago when both programs showcased competitions that left fans eager for more. This season’s contest promises to reignite that intensity, as UC Santa Barbara brings its tradition of West Coast excellence to face a Utah Valley squad known for its grit and determination. With both teams hungry to make a statement, this long-awaited reunion is poised to deliver an unforgettable chapter in their basketball history.

“We’re very fortunate to be part of the Salt Lake Slam at Delta Center,” said UCSB Head Coach, Joe Pasternack. “It’s a first-class event, and an incredible opportunity for our program to compete on a big stage.”

The second game of the doubleheader will spotlight Utah State, a perennial power in the Mountain West Conference (MW), who brings a record of NCAA Tournament appearances and a strong fanbase to Salt Lake City. They will face Illinois State, a program from the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) with a history of postseason berths, including multiple NCAA Tournament and NIT appearances.

“We are extremely excited to be a part of an incredible day of basketball at Delta Center,” said Utah State Head Coach, Jerrod Calhoun. “Illinois State is a strong team which will be picked at the top of the Missouri Valley, and we are excited about the opportunity to play them in such a great college basketball environment.”

The upcoming contest between the Utah State Aggies and the Illinois State Redbirds marks the first meeting between the programs since 2014, renewing a series that dates back to 1983. In their seven previous contests, Utah State holds a narrow 4–3 advantage, adding extra intrigue to this year’s showdown. With both teams eager to tilt the series in their favor, fans can expect a high-energy battle from tip-off to the final buzzer.

“This is a great game for our program as it affords us the opportunity to play against a perennial NCAA Tournament team in a premiere basketball venue,” said Illinois State Head Coach, Ryan Pedon. “I have great respect for Jerrod Calhoun and the program he coaches. I know that we will be tested in many ways, and this is exactly what we want. We are excited to bring the Redbirds to Salt Lake City and are grateful for the opportunity.”

“We are thrilled to announce this non-conference doubleheader taking place at Delta Center. Four strong programs will showcase their talents in the Salt Lake Slam and make for a great day of basketball,” said RPPI President, Zach Franz. The Salt Lake Slam on Saturday, December 13^th will be followed by a third game as part of a separate event featuring Utah vs. Mississippi State in the Salt Lake Showcase.

“Delta Center has established itself as a premier venue for basketball at every level, where some of the game’s greatest matchups have come to life,” said Chris Barney, president of commercial and revenue strategy at Smith Entertainment Group. “The Salt Lake Slam offers our community the rare opportunity to witness elite programs compete, celebrate our local teams, and experience the unmatched atmosphere that makes Delta Center one of the most iconic basketball destinations in the country.”

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 26th at 10am MST. Sign up for more information here: Salt Lake Slam | Pre Sale Information Fans are encouraged to follow @salt.lake.slam on Instagram for updates.

Fan Experience Travel packages will be available at: Salt Lake Slam | Utah Valley vs UCSB and Utah State vs Illinois State: Ticket and Hotel Packages All packages start at $19.99 down.

About Russ Potts Productions, Inc.
RPPI, a Virginia based sports and entertainment company, has organized over 900 major college and professional sporting events in nearly 40 years in the industry.  In 2025, RPPI is organizing over a dozen high-profile events on the calendar featuring 40+ men’s college basketball programs across the country. RPPI specializes in the organization and promotion of live sports and entertainment content. For more Information: www.rppi.net

About Delta Center
Home of the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth, Delta Center is the region’s premier sports and entertainment venue, located in downtown Salt Lake City. Each year, Delta Center welcomes more than 1.8 million guests and hosts more than 320 days of electrifying sports and entertainment events ranging from NBA and NHL games to performances by world-renowned musicians and entertainers and other large-scale sporting competitions. In April 2025, Delta Center launched a multi-year, inside-out renovation process to transform into a state-of-the-art, dual-sport venue and anchor Utah’s NBA and NHL franchises in downtown Salt Lake City. When renovations are complete, capacity will grow from 11,131 to approximately 17,000 for NHL games, from 18,206 to nearly 19,000 for NBA games, and from 13,989 to up to 19,000 for concerts and events. Since its debut in 1991, Delta Center has hosted the 2023 and 1993 NBA All-Star weekends, 2002 Olympic Winter Games, NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and two NBA Finals. For more information about Delta Center, an entity of Smith Entertainment Group, visit www.deltacenter.com.