For Immediate Release: July 9, 2007
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU men's basketball non-conference slate features home dates with GW, St. Bonaventure
Bearcats will face NCAA tournament teams George Washington, Central Connecticut State and nationally-ranked Akron


VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball has released its 2007-08 non-conference schedule, and the 12-game slate features opponents from six conferences. The early season highlights include home games against 2007 NCAA tournament teams George Washington (Dec. 13) and Central Connecticut State (Nov. 20) and a November 24 away contest against an Akron team that ended the season receiving votes in the two national polls. Binghamton has six home and six away games before the America East schedule begins in early January.

Under first-year coach Kevin Broadus, the Bearcats will open the season November 12 at St. Bonaventure - one of two games against the Atlantic-10 member Bonnies, who will return the favor on December 30 at the Events Center. Binghamton will take on Quinnipiac in the home opener on November 14.

While the list of opponents doesn't include a high-major program, BU will face teams that have been strong in their respective conferences. Seven of the 10 non-conference opponents played .500 or better last season and five of those teams finished in the top-three in their league. In addition, three teams won 20 or more games a year ago. The overall conference record of BU's 10 opponents was 88-58 (60%).

Akron went 26-7 and was runnerup in the Mid-American Conference, just missing an NCAA tournament berth. George Washington, where Broadus served as assistant coach from 2001-04, went 23-9 and won the Atlantic-10 title. Central Connecticut State won the Northeast Conference regular season and tournament titles and went 22-12 overall. Other teams that fared well in their conferences were Cornell (16-12, third in Ivy), Fordham (18-12, fourth in A-10) and Quinnipiac (third in Northeast). The Dec. 28 game at Fordham will be the first-ever game against the Rams.

"I think it's a nice blend of games that should help prepare us for the conference season," Broadus said. "I'm especially excited to have Coach Hobbs and GW come to our place on December 13. They have an excellent basketball program and I know our fans will enjoy watching that game. We certainly have some challenging games lined up but we believe our team will be ready come November."

The schedule also includes return matchups with 2006-07 opponents Rider (Dec. 1) and Colgate (Dec. 5) and a home-and-home series with independent Chicago State (Nov. 17 away and Dec. 22 home).

The 16-game conference slate will be released in early September.

Binghamton returns three starters and seven letterwinners from a 13-16 team of a year ago. Second team America East all-star Mike Gordon and All-Rookie selection Lazar Trifunovic highlight the pre-season roster, which also includes five newcomers.

2007-08 BU Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
NOVEMBER
12 Mon.	@ St. Bonaventure	7 p.m.
14 Wed.	QUINNIPIAC	7 p.m.
17 Sat.	@ Chicago State	TBA
20 Tue.	CENTRAL CONNECTICUT ST.	7 p.m.
24 Sat.	@ Akron	TBA
27 Tue.	@ Cornell	7 p.m.
DECEMBER
1 Sat.	@ Rider	TBA
5 Wed.	COLGATE	7 p.m.
13 Thu.	GEORGE WASHINGTON	7 p.m.
22 Sat.	CHICAGO STATE	7 p.m.
28 Fri.	@ Fordham	TBA
30 Sun.	ST. BONAVENTURE	4 p.m.