The Niagara men’s basketball program has announced its 2011-12 non-conference schedule. Highlights on this season’s schedule are home tilts against Big Four rivals Buffalo and St. Bonaventure and participating in the 2011 College Basketball Experience (CBE) Classic.
“Our non-conference schedule will challenge us on many levels,” Niagara head coach Joe Mihalich said.
Niagara opens its campaign inside of the legendary ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center versus Central Connecticut State on Nov. 14.
For the second straight season, Niagara will participate in a classic run by the Gazelle Group when the Purple Eagles play in the 11th annual CBE Classic from Nov. 17-23. The Purple Eagles open their four-game classic at Big 12 power Missouri on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. NU, which is slated in the Macon Subregional, will face South Dakota State on Nov. 21, Mercer on Nov. 22 and Sam Houston State on Nov. 23.
Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Purple Eagles will play at St. Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 28. Niagara will then alternate home/away games beginning on Dec. 7 when it hosts Big Four rival UB, followed by a trip to face Hartford on Dec. 10, a home date versus Drexel on Dec. 13, a visit to Quinnipiac on Dec. 22 and a home contest versus UMBC. The Purple Eagles close out 2011 with a Little Three battle against St. Bonaventure.
“In Missouri and Drexel we see top 50 teams and other teams will be at the top of their leagues,” Mihalich said. “Nothing beats rivalry games at home versus St Bonaventure and UB. Most importantly, this schedule will get us ready for the MAAC.”
The Purple Eagles will venture to Montreal for a preseason tour where they will play four games versus Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) teams from Aug. 30 – Sept. 4.
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