A new wrinkle has been introduced into the rivalry between Grand Valley State University and Ferris State University.

GVSU Director of Athletics Tim Selgo announced at a press conference Wednesday the two schools, which are separated by less than 70 miles, will play a basketball doubleheader at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on Jan. 29.

“We, being Grand Valley, have wanted to bring basketball games to downtown Grand Rapids here at Van Andel Arena for some time now,” Selgo said. “We were just waiting for the right opportunity and the right timing.”

The women’s teams will tip off at 6 p.m. followed by the men’s team’s at 8 p.m. Amway is sponsoring the match up, dubbed the “131 Showdown” in honor of the interstate separating the schools, and a portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Van Andel Institute as part of the Community for a Cure Purple Game, which supports cancer research.

The game will be the first time the schools have met at a neutral site during the regular season.

“I think it’s just great for both programs to come to the Grand Rapids community,” said GVSU women’s head coach Janel Burgess. “The biggest thing is just to represent our universities and let our student-athletes experience a tremendous environment with a location that I think is special to both programs.”

It will be the second time the men’s team has played at the Van Andel Arena, which has a seating capacity of more than 12,000, and the first time in a regular-season game. The Lakers lost an exhibition game to Division I Michigan State University at the arena in 2006.

“You hate to give up a home game, the students are always such a great factor when you play them,” said GVSU men’s head coach Ric Wesley. “But, I think it’s a good opportunity for our school to kind of put ourselves in front of the Grand Rapids community.”

GVSU’s men’s basketball team is coming of a 22-9 season and enters the 2010-11 season ranked No. 3 by The Sporting News. Wesley’s squad returns all five starters and 12 letter-winners from the team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Semi-finals last year. The Lakers split the season series with Ferris State last year, losing 67-41 in November and winning 80-68 in January.

“It’s exciting, especially with it being our senior year for a few of us, to end our senior year,” said senior guard/foward K’Len Morris. “Playing in an event like this is really cool. A bigger crowd, a bigger atmosphere.

“Ever since I’ve been here, I don’t think there’s been a game (against Ferris State) where it was just a landslide or wasn’t exciting,” he added. “To bring a very exciting and very intense game like us and Ferris to Van Andel, it’s going to be something special.”

The GVSU women return four starters and seven letter-winners from last season and are ranked No. 20 by the Division II Bulletin. Burgess, who is entering her fourth year as GVSU head coach, led the Lakers to a 18-10 record in 2009-10. GVSU defeated Ferris State twice last year.

“We’re really excited, especially having Ferris, our No. 1 rival,” said senior forward Kara Crawford. “We’re just excited because the atmosphere should be really good, and I know the team is trying to promote a lot of their family and friends from their hometowns and stuff to be part of this event.”

Tickets for the 131 Showdown can be purchased by calling 800-745-3000 or online through Ticketmaster. Students from both GVSU and Ferris State can obtain tickets for $5. For non-students, the cost is $15 for a lower-bowl ticket or $10 for upper-bowl seats. Courtside seats are $50 each and must be purchased in pairs through the GVSU ticket office at 616-331-3200.

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