FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 14, 2025) – Intersport, organizers of the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off, announced the participating teams and matchups for the event’s 2025 Palms Division this afternoon. Games are scheduled for Nov. 24 and 26 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College.

Bowling Green, Bucknell, Buffalo and VMI make up the four-team division, joining the previously announced Beach Division quartet of Michigan State, North Carolina, St. Bonaventure and East Carolina. Seven of the teams participating in the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off will do so for the first time, while Bowling Green will become the first program in the event’s history to make its second appearance (inaugural Palms Division in 2021). Beach Division matchups will take place Nov. 25 and 27.

Game times and dates will be announced in the coming weeks, but the four confirmed matchups for the two-day Palms Division event include:

• Bucknell vs. Bowling Green
• VMI vs. Buffalo
• Bucknell vs. Buffalo
• VMI vs. Bowling Green

Event travel packages will become available on July 23 and will include tickets to all games of the Palms Division, hotel accommodations at one of our host hotels and parking at the venue. To register to receive more details or to learn more about event travel packages, visit www.fortmyerstipoff.com/travel. Ticket-only packages will be available in August.

With the announcement of the four-team Palms Division field, the complete event schedule for the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off Beach and Palms Division and Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off Island and Shell Division is complete. In total, 16 games will be played from Nov. 24-29 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Tip times for all 16 games will be revealed in the coming weeks and months:

To receive the latest email alerts regarding event news, ticket information and more, visit our website at www.fortmyerstipoff.com and follow Intersport Basketball on Twitter (X) and Instagram at @IntersportHoops.

About the teams of the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off Palms Division
Bowling Green
Head Coach: Todd Simon
Notables: Simon enters his third season with the program, winning 34 games in the last two years… Simon was the head coach at Southern Utah that claimed the 2021 Palms Division crown after defeating Bowling Green … the Falcons return three starters from last year’s program, led by second-leading scorer Javontae Campbell.

Bucknell
Head Coach: John Griffin III
Notables: Griffin III is in his third season at his alma mater, having won 18 games last season, the most in a season since 2018-19 (21) … Was part of two separate Bucknell teams that won first-round games in the NCAA Tournament (vs. Kansas in 2005 and vs. Arkansas in 2006) … returns a pair of starters, Ruot Bijiek and Achile Spadone.

Buffalo
Head Coach: George Halcovage III
Notables: Halcovage is entering his third season as Buffalo’s head coach, having previously spent 15 seasons on the staff at Villanova, where he won a pair of national championships … the Bulls return three returning starters from last year’s squad, including leading scorer Ryan Sabol.

VMI
Head Coach: Andrew Wilson
Notables: Wilson enters his fourth season with the program, coming on the heels of a 15-win campaign, the Keydets second-most victories since the 2014-15 season … The Keydets return four starters and eight of their top nine leading scorers from last year’s program, led by third-team All-SoCon honoree Rickey Bradley, Jr.

About Intersport

Intersport is an award-winning agency that fills the empty space between marketing campaigns and consumers—helping brands make more meaningful connections. Its industry-leading team offers expert insights in content marketing, experiential marketing, hospitality, partnership consulting and platform development. The Chicago-based agency also owns and operates events across the professional and collegiate sports landscape, including basketball, football, golf, pickleball and volleyball. Intersport has been headquartered in Chicago since its inception in 1985 and has an additional office in Detroit. Learn more at www.intersport.global and on social media (LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook).

About the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off and Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off

An annual celebration of men’s and women’s college basketball, the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off and Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off welcomes the top programs from around the country for incredible competition to see which teams and their fans will #OwnTheFort during Thanksgiving Week. Contested at Suncoast Credit Union Arena, the home of Florida SouthWestern State College, the events have quickly become a staple of the Southwest Florida sports calendar. To receive the latest email alerts regarding event news, ticket information and more, visit our website at www.fortmyerstipoff.com or www.womensfortmyerstipoff.com and follow Intersport Basketball on Twitter (X) and Instagram at @IntersportHoops.