OLEAN, N.Y. — St. Bonaventure will play four road games during its 2014 non-conference men’s basketball schedule, which was announced Wednesday.
After four straight home games to open the season, St. Bonaventure’s first game away from the Reilly Center will be against Niagara in the Big 4 Classic doubleheader at First Niagara Center Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. The Big 4 Classic pairings, schedule and ticket information were announced Tuesday.
Coach Mark Schmidt’s team will play three straight road games on Saturdays in December. The road swing starts with a trip to Ohio University on Dec. 6. The Bonnies and Bobcats have met four times since 2006, most recently Nov. 28, 2012 in Athens, Ohio. Last season, Ohio finished 25-12 and made the College Insider Tournament.
The following weekend, after the conclusion of final exams, the Bonnies will go up against one of the top programs in the country when they visit Pittsburgh on Dec. 13 at Petersen Events Center. Coach Jamie Dixon’s Panthers return three starters from a 26-10 team that made the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bonnies last faced Pittsburgh in the 2001 NIT.
Dec. 20, St. Bonaventure will travel east on Interstate 86 to play at Binghamton, renewing a rivalry that had a home-and-home series in 2009 and 2010 but no meetings since then.
The Bonnies’ final action before Atlantic 10 Conference play starts will be at Delaware on Tuesday, Dec. 30. Last season, St. Bonaventure knocked off the Blue Hens 80-73 in the Reilly Center on Dec. 30. Delaware went on to win the Colonial Athletic Association championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament; however, the Blue Hens return just one starter from that team.
Coupled with the previously announced home schedule of six games, the Bonnies will play a total of 11 non-conference games. The Atlantic 10 schedule is expanding from 16 up to 18 games this season.
