The Kent State basketball team’s season continues in the Basketball Classic presented by Eracism.

Kent State will play for the Willis Reed Trophy, taking on Southern Utah University for the first time in program history Thursday night.

The Basketball Classic is debuting this year, taking place of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). It is comprised of teams that did not make the NCAA Tournament, the National Invitaion Tournament (NIT) or the College Basketball Invitational.

KSU made five appearances in the CIT under coach Rob Senderoff. The Flashes were 3-4 in the tournament under Senderoff and made the quarterfinals in 2015.

The Flashes fell one game short of making the NCAA Tournament after a loss to Akron in the MAC championship.

Southern Utah finished its season with a 20-11 record. KSU has won 14 out of its last 15 games, the teams’ 14-game win streak was ended by the Zips. Kent State is 23-10 on the year.

The second round matchups will be announced after the first round finishes.

Kent State will travel to Cedar City, Utah with the MAC Player of the Year redshirt junior guard Sincere Carry, MAC Coach of the Year Senderoff, and MAC Sixth Man of the Year redshirt senior forward Justyn Hamilton.

Tipoff will be at 9 p.m.

Jacob Hansen is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].