The Swamp comes to Lakeland on Thursday, Dec. 14, as the high flying Florida Gators men’s basketball team will take on the East Carolina Pirates at 7 p.m. at the RP Funding Center.
Central Florida plays a pivotal role in this year’s Gator’s team. Both star guards hail from the area – Walter Clayton Jr. from Bartow High School and Riley Kugel from Orlando’s Dr. Philips.
Dubbed the Visit Central Florida Tip-Off, this will be the first time the teams have met.
Florida head coach Todd Golden is in his second season with the Gators, having led them to a postseason bid and multiple top-25 wins last year.
East Carolina is led by second-year coach Michael Schwartz, who guided the Pirates to 16 wins last season, the most in a season since the 2013-14 season. The Pirates will return four of their top five scorers from last year, including RJ Felton, Brandon Johnson, Ezra Ausar and Jaden Walker. Ausar was a unanimous AAC All-Freshman Team honoree in 2023.
Tickets start at just $25 and are available at www.rpfundingcenter.com or in person at the RP Funding Center Box Office, Mondays and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.