2017-18 Bryn Athyn College Men's Basketball Schedule
BRYN ATHYN, Pa. – An exhibition game against Division I New Jersey Institute of Technology highlights the Bryn Athyn College men's basketball team's 2017-18 schedule that was released by head coach Justin Baxter on Tuesday.
The Lions travel to Newark, N.J. to take on the Highlanders on Friday, Dec. 22. It will be the third straight year that Bryn Athyn will take on a Division I opponent. Last season, the Lions were defeated by the University of Delaware 84-51. During the 2014-15 season, Bryn Athyn fell to Princeton University 100-44.
"We like our players to get the experience of playing a Division I opponent," said Baxter. "NJIT is opening a new arena this year and we look forward to our third straight season competing at the highest level."
In addition to the exhibition contest, Bryn Athyn has nine non-conference contests lined up for the 2017-18 campaign. Four of the nine games will be against opponents that the Lions are facing for the first time.
"Our non-conference schedule is extremely difficult this season highlighted by matchups with at Widener and against Lebanon Valley. They are good teams that should be at the top of the region," stated Baxter.
Bryn Athyn opens the season with the Widener Tip-Off for Autism Awareness at Widener University on the weekend of Nov. 17-18. The Lions will take on the host Pride on the 17th and then face either Rosemont or York (N.Y.) 24 hours later. It will be the first time that Bryn Athyn will play Widener and Rosemont/York.
The first home game of the season is slated for Nov. 21 when the Lions welcome Arcadia to Asplundh Field House. After a week off, Bryn Athyn will play host to the University of Valley Forge.
Bryn Athyn's next five non-conference affairs will be away from home. The Lions visit Haverford on Dec. 13 and Rutgers-Camden on Dec. 16 before taking on NJIT. Then, Bryn Athyn returns to action on the weekend of Dec. 30-31 for the Roosevelt's 21st Greyhound Classic at Moravian College. The Lions are slated to play host Moravian (Dec. 30) and Lebanon Valley (Dec. 31) for the first time in program history.
Non-conference play concludes with the first game of 2018, Jan. 5 against visiting Penn State Brandywine.
The Lions will play 16 games against the North Eastern Athletic Conference, starting on Dec. 2 at Wilson. Bryn Athyn will play the other six teams in the southern division—Wilson, College of Saint Elizabeth, Gallaudet, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, and Lancaster Bible—twice in a home-and-home series. From the north, the Lions are facing SUNY Poly (Jan. 13), SUNY Cobleskill (Jan. 14), Penn College (Feb. 3), and Keuka (Feb. 4).
"Conference play is always very exciting," remarked Baxter. "We think the NEAC, especially the NEAC South, will be super competitive. We hope to put ourselves in position to earn a playoff berth for the second year in a row."
The regular season wraps up on Feb. 17 at Lancaster Bible.
2017-18 Regular Season Opponent Notes
Widener: November 17 – Schwartz Center
First-ever meeting against Widener
Rosemont or York (N.Y.): November 18 – Schwartz Center (Widener University)
First-ever meeting with Rosemont or York.
Arcadia: November 21 – Asplundh Field House
Bryn Athyn's home opener…One previous meeting against Arcadia, an 82-77 loss on Nov. 20, 2013, in Glenside
University of Valley Forge: November 28 – Asplundh Field House
0-3 all-time against the Patriots…Hosting Valley Forge for the second straight season
Wilson: December 2 – Nelson Gymnasium
NEAC opener…3-3 all-time against Wilson…Has split the season with the Phoenix all three years…1-2 in games at Wilson
College of Saint Elizabeth: December 6 – Asplundh Field House, January 24 – Saint Joseph Hall
1-1 all-time against the Eagles…Split the season series last season with each team winning on its home floor
Gallaudet: December 9 – Asplundh Field House, February 7 –The Field House
Lost five straight games to Gallaudet...Won the first-ever meeting against the Bison 62-56 on Jan. 8, 2015 in Washington, D.C.
Haverford: December 13 – Calvin Gooding Arena
Defeated the Fords 68-66 in the first and only meeting between the teams on Nov. 26, 2016, in Asplundh Field House
Rutgers-Camden: December 16 – Athletic & Fitness Center
Picked up a 72-71 win over the Scarlet Raptors on Dec. 10, 2016, in Bryn Athyn, the first meeting for both teams
NJIT: December 22 – NJIT Wellness and Events Center
Exhibition game…First meeting between the Lions and Highlanders
Moravian: December 30 –Johnston Hall
First game between Bryn Athyn and Moravian
Lebanon Valley: December 31 - Johnston Hall (Moravian College)
First meeting with Lebanon Valley
Penn State Brandywine: January 5 – Asplundh Field House
Playing the Nittany Lions for the first time since Jan. 9, 2014—a 79-55 win for the Lions
Penn State Abington: January 10 – Athletic Building, January 17 – Asplundh Field House
Has a 4-4 record against Abington…2-2 at home, including wins in the last two games in Asplundh Field House…Had a three-game winning streak over the Nittany Lions snapped with an 18-point loss on Feb. 4, 2017, at Abington…Split the season series last season
SUNY Poly: January 13 – Asplundh Field House
Playing SUNY Poly for the fourth straight year…0-3 all-time against the Wildcats with every game being decided by four or fewer points…Third meeting in Asplundh Field House
SUNY Cobleskill: January 14 – Asplundh Field House
2-2 all-time against the Fighting Tigers…Won the last two meetings…1-1 against SUNY Cobleskill at home
Lancaster Bible: January 20 – Asplundh Field House, February 17 – Horst Athletic Center
The Chargers are the defending NEAC champion…1-7 against Lancaster Bible…Played the Chargers last year in their first-ever NEAC Tournament game…Won the first meeting between the teams 76-60 on Dec. 18, 2013…Were defeated by the Chargers three times last year by single digits
Penn State Berks: January 27 – Beaver Community Center, February 10 – Asplundh Field House
2-4 all-time against Berks…Lions won two of the last three games…Bryn Athyn is 1-3 in Asplundh Field House…Teams split the season series last season
Penn College: February 3 – Lewis H. Bardo Gymnasium
Lions lead the all-time series 4-2…Bryn Athyn is 2-1 at home and 2-1 at Penn College…Teams have split the season series each of the last two seasons
Keuka: February 4 – KC Gymnasium
Bryn Athyn is 2-1 against Keuka…Lions have won both meetings in Asplundh Field House…Lost at Keuka in overtime during the 2015-16 season.