ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- The South Carolina State University men's basketball program released its 2015-16 schedule, featuring nine (9) Power Conference schools and a slate that includes 11 home games, and 18 road contests including MEAC Conference and non-conference play."This coming season will mark my second full season at the helm of our Men's Basketball program. I am genuinely excited about the opportunities we have this season to restore our brand of excellence with our program," said SC State head coach Murray Garvin. "We have many of our key players from last season's squad returning add with that our new additions to the team. We will be prepared for our out of conference slate, by the time MEAC play starts and we should have all the kinks out and ready to compete."
The Bulldogs start play in a Garnet & Blue intrasquad scrimmage on Nov. 7 at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, before opening up the regular season on the road against intrastate rival College of Charleston on Nov.13 in Charleston, SC.
The first home-opener of the season will be against Voorhees College on Nov. 16, followed by a trip to the blue grass state to participate in the Eastern Kentucky Hoops Classic in Richmond, KY. First matchup for SCSU in the EKU Classic will be Longwood on Nov. 20, followed by Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 21, and Ball State on Nov. 22.
SCSU then returns to Orangeburg in non-conference action against Barber-Scotia on Nov.29, before heading out to the Midwest to take on Big 12 giant Kansas State on Nov.29 in Manhattan, KS in a televised event.
The Bulldogs have early road MEAC battles in the sunshine state with Florida A&M on Dec. 5 in Tallahassee, Fla. and Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 7 in Daytona Beach. SC State returns home for the last time in the 2015 season, when the host Jacksonville University on Dec. 12.
Garvin and his team, then embark on a five-game road swing during the holiday season beginning with two contests versus Atlantic 10 schools, starting with Duquesne University on Dec. 16 in Pittsburgh, PA and St. Bonaventure on Dec. 19 in St. Bonaventure, NY.
The Bulldogs then return to the Carolinas to take on the Pirates of Eastern Carolina of the American Athletic Conference on Dec. 22 in Greenville, NC. Following a very short break the Bulldogs then take off on a visit to the great state of Ohio to battle Big Ten foe The Ohio State University on Dec. 27 in Columbus and Akron University on Dec. 30 in Akron. The Ohio tour will conclude with the Bulldogs first opponent in 2016 versus Miami of Ohio in Oxford on Jan.2.
"We will be tested early and often in the first half of our schedule," said Garvin. "Our team must capitalize daily on our preseason strength and conditioning and early practices in preparation for this very challenging schedule."
After the holidays, SC State returns to MEAC play with a four-game home stand beginning with North Carolina Central (Jan.9), N.C. A&T State (Jan. 11), Delaware State (Jan.16), and UMES (Jan. 18). The Bulldogs then hit the road for a three-game conference swing beginning in the Commonwealth state of Virginia to battle with Norfolk State on Jan. 23 and Hampton on Jan. 25, before heading north for a showdown against the Hornets of Delaware State on Jan. 30 in Dover, Del.
Three straight home games follow with Coppin State (Feb. 6), Morgan State (Feb. 8) and Savannah State (Feb.13), then the Bulldogs are back on the road for a three-game MEAC swing against UMES (Feb.21) in Princess Anne, MD, Howard (Feb. 23) in Washington, DC, and Savannah State (Feb.27) in Savannah, GA.
The Bulldogs close out the regular season at home against Bethune-Cookman on March 3.
The 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament will be held March 7-12 at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
"This season we would like all of the Bulldog faithful to mark their calendars and come out and support our Men's Basketball team, at home and especially on the road!"
Dates and times are subject to change.
SC State brings back eight letter winners from last year's squad that finish 7th in MEAC play. The Bulldogs welcome three JUCO transfers to a veteran team including, one guard and two forwards.
Garvin also welcomes back redshirt senior forward Luka Radovic and junior center DouDou Gueye who missed the entire 2014-15 campaign due to injury. Both returnees will add much needed depth in the frontcourt position.
For more information on South Carolina State University basketball, please call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060 or visit the official Bulldog website at www.scsuathletics.com.
COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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