For Immediate Release: September 8, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton men's basketball releases 12-game non-conference schedule
Holiday tournament at New Mexico, game at University of Miami highlight slate

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton University men's basketball has released its 2006-07 non-conference schedule, which begins with the Nov. 11 season opener at Long Island University. The Bearcats will play 12 games - five at home - before the America East schedule opens in January.

The non-conference slate features high-profile games at New Mexico and University of Miami. The Bearcats will play in the Lobo Invitational on December 28-29, in New Mexico’s 18,018-seat arena known as “The Pit.” There, BU will face West Coast Conference team Pepperdine with a possible matchup against the Lobos in the championship game.

One week earlier, the team will head to Miami to take on an ACC-member Hurricanes program that won 18 games in 2005-06. Also on the trip, the Bearcats will pay a visit to Jacksonville to face North Florida.

Other schedule highlights include a tough home test against Mid American Conference member Akron, who went 23-10 and advanced to the NIT second round a year ago.

A home-and-home series with LIU and games against in-state foes Niagara, Cornell and Colgate also dot the schedule.

“We’ve chosen to compete with two very good programs on the road: University of Miami and at the University of New Mexico holiday tournament,” head coach Al Walker said. “This extends our tradition of bringing our upperclassmen home to play in front of family and friends. Duane (James) grew up in Miami and Gio (Olomo) went to high school in Albuquerque. The remaining games are our regional opponents, and we’re especially excited to add our two close neighbors Cornell and Colgate.”

The 16-game America East schedule begins on January 3 and will feature home-and-home series’ with each of the eight other conference members. After hosting the past two America East Championships, BU will head to Boston University for this year’s first three tournament rounds on March 2-4.

The America East schedule will be released in late September, once the conference television schedule is finalized.

2006-07 Non-Conference Schedule (tentative)

Oct. 31 vs. MANSFIELD (exhib.) (7 p.m.)
Nov. 4 vs. ST. ROSE (exhib.) (1 p.m.)
Nov. 11 @ Long Island (4 p.m.)
Nov. 16 @ Niagara (TBA)
Nov. 20 vs. MT. ST. MARY’S (7 p.m.)
Nov. 25 vs. CORNELL (TBA)
Nov. 27@ Colgate (7 p.m.)
Dec. 2 vs. RIDER (1 p.m.)
Dec. 6 vs. AKRON (7 p.m.)
Dec. 15 vs. LONG ISLAND (7 p.m.)
Dec. 18 @ North Florida (TBA)
Dec. 20 @ Univ. Miami (TBA)

Comcast Lobo Invitational (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Dec. 28 vs. Pepperdine (10:15 p.m.ET)
Dec. 29 vs. New Mexico/Alcorn St. (8/10:15 p.m.)

NOTE
The America East schedule will not be released until late September. The 16-game slate will begin on January 3 and feature a home-and-home series with each of the eight other members of the conference. Boston University will host the 2006 America East Championship on March 2-5.