VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton men's basketball has released its 2026-27 schedule and the slate opens with a road game on Nov. 2. The game against a Power 4 opponent still-to-be-named, will mark the earliest opener in program history. The Bearcats will play 15 non-conference games and then finish with the traditional 16-game America East slate.
The first semester schedule includes 11 road games and four home games – all at the downtown Visions Veterans Memorial Arena while renovations to Binghamton's Events Center are finished. The school is in the midst of a $10 million upgrade to the multi-purpose campus arena, which will include a new basketball court and spectator seating. The Bearcats will return to their home facility when conference play begins the first week of January.
Two of the marquee opponents include Atlantic 10 quarterfinalist Duquesne (Nov. 14) and ACC member and I-81 neighbor Syracuse (Dec. 22). The Dukes won 18 games last season, including nine in the A-10. The game against the Orange and new head coach Gerry McNamara will be seventh meeting between the two schools, separated by just 77 miles. The teams met in last year's season opener.
Binghamton then will make its first-ever appearance at the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena when Rider University comes to down on Nov. 8.
The Bearcats will host Army at the Arena on Nov. 21 in the first of two special downtown doubleheaders with the Bing women playing beforehand on both Nov. 21 and Dec. 5.
The rest of the non-conference schedule will see familiar in-state opponents (Le Moyne, Niagara), nearby Pennsylvania foes (Lehigh, Lafayette) and trips to alumni-heavy Metro NY/NJ for games against Saint Peter's (Nov. 5) and FDU (Nov. 30). Saint Peter's won 17 games last winter and finished as regular-season runnersup in the Metro Conference. The games against Rider and Saint Peter's will be part of the first America East-Metro Basketball Challenge.
Lehigh, coming off an 18-win NCAA season, will be third of three Patriot League opponents. The road game at Le Moyne will continue the "Battle for the Interstate" series between the two programs.
The 16-game home-and-home America East slate begins with a home game against Vermont on Sat., Jan. 2 at the Events Center. The Bearcats then will play their next three games on the road before hosting four of the next five. The closing stretch in late February includes road games at Maine (Feb. 25), New Hampshire (Feb. 27) and the finale at UMBC (March 2) before quarterfinals are set for March 6.
