Valpo, Detroit Tabbed to Play in ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon

BRISTOL, Conn. – Defending Horizon League Tournament champion Detroit will play at St. John’s, while 2011 regular season titlist Valparaiso will host Northern Illinois in the 2012 ESPN College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon across the ESPN Networks.

The marathon covers 11 men’s basketball games across 24 hours, beginning at 12 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Fans will be able to wake up with the Valparaiso-Northern Illinois clash, which will tip from the Athletics-Recreation Center at approximately 8 a.m. ET.

Valparaiso, which captured its first Horizon League men’s basketball regular season title in 2011-12, returns two First Team All-League picks from a year ago in Player of the Year Ryan Broekhoff and Kevin Van Wijk.

All five first team selections from the end of last season return to the League in 2012-13, including Detroit’s Ray McCallum. McCallum, the Horizon League Tournament MVP, will lead the Titans to Carnesecca Arena on the campus of St. John’s University for a 2 p.m. ET tip versus the Red Storm.

The game marks the return trip for Detroit, who knocked off St. John’s, 69-63, at Calihan Hall in front of an ESPN2 audience as part of the “Dick Vitale Court” dedication on Dec. 5.

The complete Horizon League conference schedule, including ESPN games, will be released at a later date.