​The sponsor of Michigan State basketball’s latest holiday tournament should be quite familiar to Spartan fans.Michigan State and Gonzaga are playing a doubleheader in men’s and women’s basketball Dec. 19 in the 2026 Acrisure Series at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif. Tip-off times and broadcast details are to be determined.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAcrisure, the sponsor, is a Grand Rapids-based fintech company led by CEO Greg Williams, who in December alongside his wife pledged $401 million to Michigan State athletics including a $100 million stake in new revenue arm Spartan Ventures. That financial commitment is the largest in school history, though it is not structured as a lump sum.More: Who are Michigan State’s mega donors? Get to know Greg and Dawn Williams“Our good friend Greg Williams and his wife, Dawn, are part of the leadership group at the arena,” Tom Izzo said in a statement announcing the series. “They care a great deal about Michigan State, and they have embraced the Palm Springs area and the community there.“Getting the chance to play against a terrific program in Gonzaga that is led by one of my great friends in college basketball, Mark Few, made this an easy game to put on our schedule. Michigan State has a great alumni presence in Southern California, and I know our West Coast Spartans will be very excited for the game, and we are too.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Michigan State men (27-8) finished last season in the Sweet 16 in a loss to eventual runner-up UConn (who will play an exhibition at Breslin Center this fall). The Gonzaga men finished last season 31-4 with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss to play-in 11-seed Texas.Gonzaga is coached by Mark Few, whose 772 career wins to rank seventh among active Division I coaches just barely beats out Tom Izzo’s 764 career wins.EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 06: Head coach Tom Izzo looks on while playing the Duke Blue Devils at Breslin Center on December 06, 2025 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)The Michigan State women (23-9) lost 77-71 to Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In Robyn Fralick’s third season at the helm, the Spartans won NCAA Tournament games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2013 and 2014. The Gonzaga women (24-10) lost 81-66 to Ole Miss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMichigan State’s men’s basketball team appeared in the Acrisure Series against Arizona on Nov. 23, 2023, losing 74-68. The Michigan State women’s basketball team knocked off Cal, 78-72, and Vanderbilt, 78-70, in the series in 2024.Michigan State’s men’s basketball schedule includes a few other strong opponents in the non-conference slate. The Spartans will face Duke at Chicago’s United Center for the Champion’s Classic on Nov. 10 and Arkansas at Little Caesars Arena on Thanksgiving. Michigan State will also play a road game a