Bill Walton Classic Brings Three San Diego College Basketball Programs to Pechanga Arena Saturday

SAN DIEGO — November 7, 2026. The inaugural National University Bill Walton Classic is scheduled for Saturday at Pechanga Arena, combining a pair of NCAA Division I basketball games with a tribute to the late San Diego-born basketball legend.

Who is playing?

San Diego State’s men’s team will face Colorado, and the women’s teams from the University of San Diego and UC San Diego will also meet. The two games are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., with ticket availability subject to change. Organizers say the matchups count as official regular-season contests rather than exhibition games.

Honoring a hometown athlete

Walton, who died in 2024, played in college at UCLA and later with the San Diego Clippers before becoming a prominent broadcaster. Pechanga Arena hosted games during his NBA years, making the venue an appropriate location for the event. Organizers also planned community activities, a tie-dye celebration and a scholarship fundraising initiative.

What visitors should check

Fans can confirm admission, arena policies and last-minute schedule changes through the event and venue’s official channels. The inaugural competition is intended to become an annual tradition, but future editions and participating teams have not been established by Saturday’s games.

Source: Times of San Diego, November 4, 2026.

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