For Immediate Release: August 26, 2008
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU men's basketball releases 2008-09 non-conference schedule
Conference USA foe Tulane, BIG EAST member Rutgers highlight opponents

VESTAL, N.Y. -- Binghamton men's basketball coach Kevin Broadus has put together his 2008-09 non-conference schedule and the 13-game slate has a little something for everyone. The Bearcats will play six teams that weren't on last season's slate and will challenge themselves against Conference USA and BIG EAST opponents as well as two top-115 RPI foes.

Binghamton will be at home for its season opener for just the second time in the last six years. After playing a home exhibition game against Buffalo State on November 14, BU will begin its season by hosting Mansfield on November 17 at the Events Center.

Back-to-back road games at Atlantic 10 member George Washington and Central Connecticut State follow before BU returns to host NCAA independent Utah Valley State on November 29. That is part one of a home-and-home with the Wolverines, who have strung together 25 consecutive winning seasons.

The month of December features three straight road games at Quinnipiac (Dec. 1), Rutgers (Dec. 6) and Bucknell (Dec. 9). Quinnpiac won 15 games out of the Northeast Conference last season. Rutgers won 11 games in the demanding BIG EAST, where the Scarlet Knights faced nine NCAA tournament teams and defeated nationally-ranked opponents Louisville and Villanova.

A first-time date with Patriot League member Bucknell closes out the road swing. The Bison are coming off a 12-win season, but the program has earned recent national acclaim for NCAA tournament upset wins in 2005 and 2006. Bucknell was the Patriot League runnerup in 2007.

Binghamton will then play three home games in an eight day span near the holidays. Manhattan (Dec. 20), Rider (Dec. 23) and Marist (Dec. 30) will each make their first visit to the Events Center, with a first-ever trip to New Orleans sandwiched in-between. On December 27, BU will face Conference USA member Tulane, which is coming off a 17-win season. The Green Wave have won 17 of their last 22 non-conference home games and return three starters and two of their top three scorers.

The Jaspers' visit is in return for BU's Bracketbuster game at Manhattan last February. The Broncs went 23-10 last season and received a bid to the inaugural College Basketball Invitational. Rider, which edged BU 81-73 in Lawrenceville in 2007-08, tied for the first place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and had an RPI of 109 - tops among BU's scheduled opponents. Marist won 18 games and advanced to the MAAC semifinals last winter. The Red Foxes won 11 league games and had a final RPI of 115.

In all, BU will face opponents from seven different conferences.

2008-09 Binghamton Non-Conference Schedule
Day	Date	Opponent	Time
Fri.	Nov. 14	BUFFALO ST. (exhib.)	7 p.m.
Mon.	Nov. 17	MANSFIELD	7 p.m.
Wed.	Nov. 19	@ George Washington	7:30 p.m.
Tue.	Nov. 25	@ Central Conn. State	7 p.m.
Sat.	Nov. 29	UTAH VALLEY STATE	2 p.m.
Mon.	Dec. 1	@ Quinnipiac	7 p.m.
Sat.	Dec. 6	@ Rutgers	2 p.m.
Tue.	Dec. 9	@ Bucknell	7 p.m.
Sat.	Dec. 20	MANHATTAN	2 p.m.
Tue.	Dec. 23	RIDER	7 p.m.
Sat.	Dec. 27	@ Tulane	TBA
Tue.	Dec. 30	MARIST	7 p.m.
Sat.	Jan. 10	@ Utah Valley State	TBA