Pac-12 announces 2nd annual China game

Harvard and Stanford set to tip off in Shanghai on Nov 12, 2016.

Representatives from Stanford and Harvard join Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott (2nd from right) as he announces the matchup for the 2016 Pac-12 China Game on Nov 13 at a press conference in Shanghai. Joining Scott were (from left): Xue Yanqing, deputy secretary-general of the Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC); Rob Urstein, managing director of the Global Innovation Program at Stanford's Graduate School of Business; Zhang Dazhong, Alibaba Sports Group CEO; and, Yi Wang, Harvard's executive director for University Programs. Provided To China Daily

With the memory of US college basketball still fresh in the minds of China's basketball faithful, the Pac-12 Conference has announced the participants for its second annual Pac-12 China Game.

Stanford University and Harvard University will kick off the 2016-2017 season in Shanghai in the second regular-season college game to be played in the world's most populated country.

The game, presented by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, will be played in Shanghai on Nov 12, 2016 and televised live in the US (Nov 11). Specific venue and broadcast information will be finalized at a later date.

In May, Alibaba and the Pac-12 Conference announced a two-year partnership to host a regular season men's basketball game in China. In addition to the on-court support, Alibaba will also feature the game live on its mobile and digital platforms in China.

Since the launch of the Pac-12 Conference Globalization Initiative in 2011, the conference has sent numerous collegiate teams to China for exhibitions and clinics.

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said the conference was "thrilled" to announce Stanford and Harvard as the participants in the conference's second annual Pac-12 China game.

"Both universities represent the very best of academic and athletic excellence, and we anticipate a great reception from the Chinese and global audience," Scott said in a Nov 13 press release.

"This is a great opportunity for these students to participate in true cultural exchange through college sports," Scott added. "Their experiences both on and off the court will not only be valuable to their future success, but also help foster goodwill and mutual understanding between our two countries."

Pac-12 officials announced the second installment of its annual game in China during a pre-game press conference for the 2015 Pac-12 China Game.

This year's matchup, which was played on Nov 14 in Shanghai (Nov 13 in the US) as the first regular-season college basketball matchup in China, featured the University of Washington Huskies and the University of Texas Longhorns. Washington defeated Texas in the event's inaugural edition, 77-71.