By Douglas Ernst - The Washington Times - Thursday, September 12, 2019

Sen. Ted Cruz has accepted another basketball challenge by none other than 2020 presidential hopeful Andrew Yang.

The Texas Republican who defeated comedian Jimmy Kimmel in a June 2018 charity game is poised to shoot hoops with Mr. Yang.

Fox News producer Pat Ford served as the catalyst for the event after watching footage of the Democrat display his skills in Houston.

“Need a @AndrewYang v @tedcruz game,” he tweeted Wednesday in response to a local ABC interview.

Mr. Cruz joked that candidates must “poll at 5% or more to play on my court,” but he reconsidered once shown polling with Mr. Yang sitting at precisely that mark.

“Hmm. You’re taller than I am,” Mr. Cruz tweeted Thursday. “From the video, you’re probably a better shot. And, I’ve seen you dunking (on an 8-foot rim). Altogether, pretty strong. So…”

SEE ALSO: Andrew Yang dreams of playing basketball against Donald Trump: ‘I would school him’

The senator’s tweet included a clip of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the wrestling ring with the caption: “Just bring it.”

“Fantastic,” Mr. Yang responded. “My team will reach out. Let’s raise some money for good causes. Looking forward to it.”

Mr. Yang is an entrepreneur who has vowed to “implement the Freedom Dividend, a universal basic income (UBI) for every American adult over the age of 18: $1,000 a month, no strings attached, paid for by a new tax on the companies benefiting most from automation.”

He will take the stage Thursday evening in Houston with nine other candidates vying to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Linsey Davis, David Muir, and Univision’s Jorge Ramos will moderate the debate, which airs from 8-11 p.m. EDT.

• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

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