VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball head coach Levell Sanders has finalized his team's 13-game non-conference slate for the 2023-24 season, the department announced on Tuesday. The Bearcats have seven road and six home games in the months of November and December.

Highlighting the list of opponents are reigning NCAA tournament teams and Power 5 opponents Northwestern (Nov. 6) and Pitt (Nov. 10) to kick off the slate. After a home exhibition against D'Youville on Nov. 1, the Bearcats will see the Big Ten member Wildcats and ACC resident Panthers in a five-day span. Northwestern (22-12) finished second in the Big Ten a year ago and advanced to the NCAA Round of 32. Pitt (24-12) was third in the ACC and won two games at the NCAA tournament. It will be BU's second matchup against Northwestern (2018) and third against Pitt (2009, 2019). 

Binghamton's home opener will be on Sunday, Nov. 12 against Keystone College. The Bearcats will also continue rivalries with in-state foes Marist (home, Nov. 18), Army (home, Nov. 25), Colgate (away, Nov. 29) and Niagara (home, Dec. 19) and have added a matchup at Atlantic 10 member St. Bonaventure in Olean on Dec. 22. The game at Bona will be the seventh meeting and first since 2015. First-year Division I member Le Moyne will make its first Events Center appearance on Dec. 9. Road games at Loyola (Nov. 15), Sacred Heart (Nov. 21) and Stonehill (Dec. 2) balance out the fall semester schedule.

In all, BU will see opponents from six conferences - three each from the Patriot League and Northeast Conference - and two from the MAAC. Three teams played NCAAs a year ago (Northwestern, Pitt, Colgate) and six reached the semifinals of their conference tournament. Binghamton's non-conference opponents posted an average of just under 17 wins last season.       

"I am really looking forward to our non-conference schedule," Sanders said. "We are playing some strong opponents in Northwestern, Pittsburgh and St. Bonaventure. We don't get a chance to play teams at this level in conference play so it's going to be a challenge but one we are looking forward to. I think our schedule has a little bit of everything ... big time schools, mid-majors and also some non-D1's which gives us the ability to win and lose games early on. This will help us learn how to deal with winning and losing so once conference play rolls around we will be ready to go!"

The 16-game America East schedule will be announced in the coming weeks and will include home and away dates against the other eight conference members. The conference slate will begin the first week in January and run through the first week of March before the eight-team championship begins. 

Binghamton men's and women's basketball season tickets will go on sale Monday, August 7 both online at bubearcats.com and at the Events Center Ticket Office