---
title: "College Hoops Season Tips Off at Marathon in Rock Hill"
url: https://www.hererockhill.com/2026/11/02/field-of-68-opening-day-marathon-rock-hill-mcneese-uab/
date: 2026-11-02T05:26:48-05:00
modified: 2026-11-02T05:26:48-05:00
author: "Erica B. Montoya"
categories: ["Sports"]
site: "HERE Rock Hill"
attribution: "HERE Rock Hill"
---

# College Hoops Season Tips Off at Marathon in Rock Hill

> ROCK HILL, S.C. — The new college basketball season starts in Rock Hill on Monday, Nov. 2, as the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon fills the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center with games from midnight into the night. High Point and Liberty were set to open the day with a sold-out tip at

*Source: [HERE Rock Hill](https://www.hererockhill.com/2026/11/02/field-of-68-opening-day-marathon-rock-hill-mcneese-uab/) — November 2, 2026 by Erica B. Montoya*

ROCK HILL, S.C. — The new college basketball season starts in Rock Hill on Monday, Nov. 2, as the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon fills the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center with games from midnight into the night.

High Point and Liberty were set to open the day with a sold-out tip at 12 a.m. It is the 42nd meeting between the old Big South rivals, and Liberty leads the all-time series 24-17. High Point won both the Big South regular-season and tournament titles last season and finished 31-5, a program and conference record for wins.

Later in the day, McNeese takes on UAB, with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m. Eastern time. It is the second time in three seasons the Cowboys have been invited to the event. McNeese went 28-6 last season and won a third straight Southland Conference tournament title.

Sophomore guard Larry Johnson leads McNeese after averaging 17.4 points as a freshman, when he was named the Southland Freshman of the Year. Bill Armstrong, now in his second year on the bench, brought in more high-major transfers than any McNeese coach before, six in all.

This is also a return trip for High Point, which beat Furman 97-71 in last year’s opener at the same event.