Men’s Basketball Unveils 2012-13 Non-Conference Schedule

Complete 2012-13 Non-Conference Schedule

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Games against six teams which went to postseason tournaments last year, including four versus NCAA Tournament squads, highlight the 2012-13 St. Bonaventure men's basketball non-conference schedule released on Friday.

Coming off their first Atlantic 10 Championship in 2012, the Bonnies will play 13 non-league contests in total – six at home, six on the road and one at a neutral site. Six of the 13 teams won 20 or more games last year, and two advanced to the Sweet 16. Bonaventure will conclude its non-conference docket with three straight games against NCAA Tournament teams.

The season gets underway with an exhibition contest on Saturday, Nov. 3, against Mansfield. The official start to the campaign comes the next week as SBU opens at home against Bethune-Cookman University on Friday, Nov. 9. The Wildcats, based out of Daytona Beach, Fla., went 18-17 last year and lost to Norfolk State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship game by three points. Norfolk State went on to upset second-seeded Missouri in the NCAA Tournament. This will mark the first meeting between St. Bonaventure and Bethune-Cookman.

Bonaventure's first road test of the season comes on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at Cornell. The Big Red went 12-16 last year, but 10 of those dozen wins came at home. Bona and Cornell faced off in last year's season opener, which the Bonnies won at the Reilly Center, 79-58. St. Bonaventure then remains on the road to face Canisius and former Bonaventure coach Jim Baron on Saturday, Nov. 17.

Following the two road contests, the Bonnies make their return to Rochester the Saturday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 24) where they will face rival Niagara. It will mark the fourth straight year St. Bonaventure has played a game in Rochester at Blue Cross Arena.

"We're glad to have a game in Rochester again this season, said athletic director Steve Watson. "Our alumni support and attendance each year has been fantastic, and the support of the business leaders and sponsors in the region has been equally strong. Combined, it has helped create a phenomenal college basketball atmosphere in a top facility. Rochester is important to St. Bonaventure, and we hope to continue playing there for a long time."

After the matchup with the Purple Eagles, the Bonnies face the first of those four NCAA Tournament teams as they head to Athens, Ohio, to battle Ohio on Wednesday, Nov. 28. The Bobcats return all five starters from a team which won a school-record 29 games last year and took North Carolina to overtime in the Sweet 16.

St. Bonaventure returns to the RC on Saturday, Dec. 1, to renew its rivalry with the University at Buffalo. The Bonnies got the better of the Bulls last year in Buffalo, 66-60, but UB went on to win 20 games and advance to the second round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The battle for the Franciscan Cup takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 4, when Siena visits the RC. Bonaventure claimed last year's meeting, 64-58, to retain the cup.

Following a visit to Arkansas State on Saturday, Dec. 8, the Bonnies return home again for two straight games. The first is a matchup with Cleveland State on Saturday, Dec. 15. The Vikings went 22-11 last year and advanced to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). CSU took last season's matchup from SBU, 67-64, but the Vikings lost four of their five starters. The Citadel, a Military College of South Carolina, concludes the brief homestand on Wednesday, Dec. 19. The Citadel, based out of Charleston, S.C., is a member of the Southern Conference, the same league which Davidson is a member.

St. Bonaventure then concludes its non-conference slate with three straight contests against NCAA Tournament teams from last year. First up is a visit to Raleigh to face North Carolina State on Saturday, Dec. 22. The two teams met last season in Rochester, and the Wolfpack claimed a 67-65 last-second win over the Bonnies. NC State won 24 games last year and lost by three points to Kansas in the Sweet 16. The Wolfpack returns four of their five starters and have been tabbed by many as the favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Iona, which lost in the NCAA Tournament First Round, visits the RC for a New Year's Eve day game on Monday, Dec. 31. The Gaels went 25-8 last season and led the entire nation in scoring at 83.3 points per game.

The non-conference docket concludes on Saturday, Jan. 5, when St. Bonaventure travels to Fort Collins, Colo. to square off with Colorado State. The Rams won 20 games last year before their season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A member of the Mountain West Conference, Colorado State finished last year with 13 straight home wins, including an upset of No. 17 UNLV in its home finale. The Rams return their top four scorers, and six of their top seven.

Starting times and TV information for all of the non-conference games will be announced when they are established.

Atlantic 10 Conference action will begin in early January as the Bonnies look to defend their championship. The league schedule will not be released until early September, but SBU will host eight conference games, including new A-10 member VCU and head coach Shaka Smart.

Additional home A-10 games will include: Charlotte, Duquesne, Fordham, La Salle, Massachusetts, Saint Louis and Xavier. The eight A-10 home games gives the Bonnies 14 games at the Reilly Center in all, which is one more than last season.

"We're very pleased that we can give our loyal fan base 14 home games this year," Watson said. "Our student-athletes love playing in the Reilly Center, and we make a great effort to ensure them as many home contests as possible."

St. Bonaventure returns three starters, led by senior Demitrius Conger, from last year's team which advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000 and nearly defeated ACC champion Florida State in the second round. By going 10-6 and finishing 4th in the A-10 in 2012, St. Bonaventure increased its conference win total and bettered its league finish for the fifth straight year under head coach Mark Schmidt.

Season tickets, including renewals, will be available beginning Aug. 13, while single-game tickets may be purchased starting Oct. 14. More information regarding ticket pricing and packaging will be available at a later date, but additional inquiries may be directed to Melissa Curran via email at mcurran@sbu.edu or by phone at 716-375-2500.

Those interested in sponsorship opportunities for the 2012-13 season may contact Aaron Hill, director of sales and marketing, via email at ahill@sbu.edu or by phone at 716-375-2086.