Bucknell University Athletics
Men’s Basketball Adds Gonzaga to Exciting Non-League Slate, Patriot League Schedule Released
9/19/2024 3:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
COMPLETE 2024-25 SCHEDULE (game times TBA)
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's basketball non-league schedule was already stacked with challenging major-conference opponents with deep-rooted histories in addition to exciting home games against two of the top Atlantic 10 teams, and now head coach John Griffin III has announced a date with perennial national power Gonzaga to round out the slate. The Bison and Bulldogs will meet for the first time in Spokane, Wash., on Dec. 21.
The Patriot League has also announced its 18-game intraconference schedule, which for Bucknell begins on Thursday, Jan. 2 with a trip to Lehigh. Bucknell's Patriot League home opener will be Sunday, Jan. 5 against defending champion Colgate. The Raiders edged the Bison 68-65 in a thriller that came down to the final possession in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals last March.
Information on 2024-25 season ticket renewals will be sent on Thursday, and new season ticket packages and single-game tickets will go on sale in early October via Bucknell's new soon-to-be-released basketball app.
"Bucknell Basketball has a proud tradition of competing in some of the most historic venues in college basketball during the non-conference portion of the season," said head coach John Griffin III. "This year's schedule is one of the most challenging we've faced in recent years, but our team is eager for the opportunity. We've got some high-caliber opponents coming to Lewisburg, and I know Sojka Pavilion will be electric. The goal with a schedule as tough as this is to prepare us in every way for the challenges of Patriot League play."
Bucknell is now slated to play four road games against major-conference opponents with storied traditions: Kentucky (Nov. 9), Maryland (Nov. 27), Gonzaga (Dec. 21), and Syracuse (Dec. 28). The Bison open the season on Monday, Nov. 4 at Delaware, and then travel to Southern Indiana and Kentucky for a two-game road trip later that week. Bucknell also has a road game at Radford on Dec. 8, and the Bison will take on Siena in a neutral-site game at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza on Nov. 30.
The 2024-25 home opener is slated for Wednesday, Nov. 13 against Mount St. Mary's, and the Bison will also host Richmond (Nov. 16), NJIT (Nov. 21), Rider (Nov. 23), and St. Bonaventure (Dec. 4) in Sojka Pavilion.
Richmond and St. Bonaventure are two of the top teams in the deep Atlantic 10, and both are coming off 20-win seasons. The Spiders went 15-3 and captured the A-10 regular-season title a year ago, while the Bonnies went 9-9 and then made a run to the A-10 Tournament semifinals.
Bucknell has never before faced Kentucky or Gonzaga, although the Bison did play in Rupp Arena in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, a 68-56 loss to Butler. Not only will Bucknell and Gonzaga be squaring off for the first time, but this will be the program's first-ever trip to the state of Washington.
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's basketball non-league schedule was already stacked with challenging major-conference opponents with deep-rooted histories in addition to exciting home games against two of the top Atlantic 10 teams, and now head coach John Griffin III has announced a date with perennial national power Gonzaga to round out the slate. The Bison and Bulldogs will meet for the first time in Spokane, Wash., on Dec. 21.
The Patriot League has also announced its 18-game intraconference schedule, which for Bucknell begins on Thursday, Jan. 2 with a trip to Lehigh. Bucknell's Patriot League home opener will be Sunday, Jan. 5 against defending champion Colgate. The Raiders edged the Bison 68-65 in a thriller that came down to the final possession in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals last March.
Information on 2024-25 season ticket renewals will be sent on Thursday, and new season ticket packages and single-game tickets will go on sale in early October via Bucknell's new soon-to-be-released basketball app.
"Bucknell Basketball has a proud tradition of competing in some of the most historic venues in college basketball during the non-conference portion of the season," said head coach John Griffin III. "This year's schedule is one of the most challenging we've faced in recent years, but our team is eager for the opportunity. We've got some high-caliber opponents coming to Lewisburg, and I know Sojka Pavilion will be electric. The goal with a schedule as tough as this is to prepare us in every way for the challenges of Patriot League play."
Bucknell is now slated to play four road games against major-conference opponents with storied traditions: Kentucky (Nov. 9), Maryland (Nov. 27), Gonzaga (Dec. 21), and Syracuse (Dec. 28). The Bison open the season on Monday, Nov. 4 at Delaware, and then travel to Southern Indiana and Kentucky for a two-game road trip later that week. Bucknell also has a road game at Radford on Dec. 8, and the Bison will take on Siena in a neutral-site game at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza on Nov. 30.
The 2024-25 home opener is slated for Wednesday, Nov. 13 against Mount St. Mary's, and the Bison will also host Richmond (Nov. 16), NJIT (Nov. 21), Rider (Nov. 23), and St. Bonaventure (Dec. 4) in Sojka Pavilion.
Richmond and St. Bonaventure are two of the top teams in the deep Atlantic 10, and both are coming off 20-win seasons. The Spiders went 15-3 and captured the A-10 regular-season title a year ago, while the Bonnies went 9-9 and then made a run to the A-10 Tournament semifinals.
Bucknell has never before faced Kentucky or Gonzaga, although the Bison did play in Rupp Arena in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, a 68-56 loss to Butler. Not only will Bucknell and Gonzaga be squaring off for the first time, but this will be the program's first-ever trip to the state of Washington.
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