Minnesota will play two home games and two games at Madison Square Garden as part of the NIT Season Tip-Off held over Thanksgiving, the touranment committee announced on Friday.

The Gophers will host Western Kentucky on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. and Division II Frankliln Pierce University at the same time on Nov. 20.

Minnesota will then head to New York, along with fellow host teams Georgia, Gonzaga and St. John's. The Gophers face St. John's in the semi-final on Nov. 26 on ESPNU. A championship (ESPN2, 5 p.m. CT), as well as a consolation game (ESPNU, 2:30 p.m. CT), will be held on Fri., Nov. 28.

Minnesota was at Madison Square Garden in April, when the Gophers claimed the NIT title after playing in their second NIT title game in three years.

St. John's also made an NIT appearance last year after finishing third in the Big East with a 20-13 record. The Red Storm lost to Robert Morris in the opening round.

Full NIT Tip-Off schedule here.