The last time òòò½ÊÓƵU played a menòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball game inside the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, then known as the Civic Center, Ross Hodge was in his first season at Arkansas State as the associate head coach.
That was in 2016. Hodge, now the Mountaineersòòò½ÊÓƵ™ coach, and his team will be in the state capital on Dec. 6 as the Mountaineers will welcome the Wake Forest Demon Deacons to the Mountain State, as part of the Gazelle Groupòòò½ÊÓƵ™s 2025 edition of Holiday Hoopfest.
òòò½ÊÓƵU and Wake Forest will share a neutral-site exchange. The second game will be played in Greensboro, North Carolina, during the 2026-27 season at the First Horizon Coliseum on a date to be announced later.
The last time òòò½ÊÓƵU played in the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center came in 2016 when the Mountaineers defeated Western Carolina, 90-37.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe are thrilled to be able to play a really good Wake Forest team in front of our fans in southern West Virginia,òòò½ÊÓƵ òòò½ÊÓƵU menòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball coach Ross Hodge said in a statement. òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s been a long time since the menòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball team played in Charleston, and when we were presented with this two-game neutral site series against Wake Forest, it certainly made sense for us.
òòò½ÊÓƵœòòò½ÊÓƵ we continue to build our nonconference schedule, this is a quality opponent from the ACC, and I know our fans will be excited and be there to support us.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Excitement is starting to brew amongst city officials about òòò½ÊÓƵU and Wake Forest playing in Charleston.
òòò½ÊÓƵœHosting this game not only gives us the opportunity to bring the òòò½ÊÓƵU menòòò½ÊÓƵ™s basketball team to Charleston to play in front of the loyal fan base that lives here, but more importantly for us, itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a tourism draw bringing òòò½ÊÓƵU and Wake Forest fans to town during a very vibrant period,òòò½ÊÓƵ Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Tim Brady said in a statement.
òòò½ÊÓƵœDecember is a fun-filled and exciting time for us to show off Charleston. Come for basketball, stay for so much more.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin echoed Bradyòòò½ÊÓƵ™s excitement.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe are thrilled to welcome òòò½ÊÓƵU and Wake Forest to Charleston for the 2025 edition of Holiday Hoopfest,òòò½ÊÓƵ Goodwin said in a statement. òòò½ÊÓƵœWith such a strong òòò½ÊÓƵU fan base throughout our city and the region, this game is sure to energize our capital city. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s also a tremendous opportunity to showcase our incredible local restaurants, shops and attractions.
òòò½ÊÓƵœEvents like this donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t just bring excitement òòò½ÊÓƵ” they bring visitors, boost local business and shine a national spotlight on our community.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The game will be 11th all-time meeting between the Mountaineers and Demon Deacons.
The last was in 2005, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Mountaineers won in double overtime, 111-105.
In other nonconference action, òòò½ÊÓƵU is scheduled to play the Pitt Panthers on Thursday, Nov. 13 in Morgantown. The Mountaineers are expected to play in the Shriners Childrenòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Charleston Classic in South Carolina eight days after the Pitt game.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWith the great college basketball tradition that these two schools have, the series promises to be one of the best early season non-conference matchups for the next two years,òòò½ÊÓƵ Baker said in a statement. òòò½ÊÓƵœSouthern West Virginia is an important part of Mountaineer Nation, and we are excited and looking forward to bringing this great matchup to Charleston.
òòò½ÊÓƵœEven though the two games will be on a neutral court, the passionate fan bases of each school will provide the intensity and atmosphere of postseason play. By facilitating this two-game series, the Gazelle Group has provided a win for the fans of Wake Forest and West Virginia.òòò½ÊÓƵ
This game will mark the first time since 2007 that West Virginia will play a Power Four opponent in the Charleston.
The last was when the Blake Griffin-led Oklahoma Sooners came calling.
òòò½ÊÓƵU has played five other major conference opponents in Charleston since 2000 òòò½ÊÓƵ” North Carolina State (2006), Florida (2002), Miami (Florida) (2000), Pitt (2000) and Syracuse (2000).
The Mountaineers are 3-3 in the six games since the turn of the century.
òòò½ÊÓƵœSome of our most passionate and loyal fans are in rural parts of the state,òòò½ÊÓƵ Baker said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI was in Boone County for the Boone County Alumni and Friends Annual Pig Roast this past weekend. There were several hundred people there that were committed and passionate. Many were the same faces that Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve seen at games. We have so many fans in some of the rural parts of the state and many of them make games in Morgantown, across all sports.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWhen I meet someone on the concourse, I always ask where theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re from, and so many times they travel from two to three hours away. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s important that we are always trying to find ways to engage our fans and communities.òòò½ÊÓƵ
West Virginia leads the all-time series over Wake Forest, 7-3, and has won three of the last five meetings.
Their first encounter was in 1948, when the Mountaineers defeated the Demon Deacons, 62-48.
Three of òòò½ÊÓƵUòòò½ÊÓƵ™s seven series wins have come on a neutral-site floor.
