NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Iona College men’s basketball head coach Tim Cluess announced the 2015-2016 schedule today in conjunction with the announcement of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference slate by the league office. The schedule features nine non-conference opponents including appearances in the Hardwood Classic in Valparaiso, IN and Corvallis, OR and the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, NV in addition to a double-round robin, 20-game conference slate.
“As always, we look forward to a challenging non-conference schedule to help prepare us for an annually tough MAAC slate,” said Cluess. “Four games on the road, three at home and two on a neutral court serves for great balance in our quest to navigate the MAAC regular season and earn a championship in March.”
The Gaels open the season Sunday, Nov. 15 at Valparaiso in the first of two games in the bd Global Hardwood Showcase. The Crusaders come off a fantastic 2014-15 season, posting a 28-6 overall mark and a Horizon League regular season championship. Valpo continued its success in its conference tournament knocking off Green Bay to punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The Crusaders fell to Maryland 65-62 in their first contest. The Maroon & Gold faced Valparaiso at the Athletics Rec Center in the opening round of the 2011 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament on Mar. 16, 2011, earning an 85-77 victory.
Two days later, Iona travels to Corvallis, OR to take on Oregon State to complete action in the Hardwood Showcase. The Beavers posted a 17-14 overall mark and were 8-10 in the Pac 12 in head coach Wayne Tinkle’s first season. They began the season 14-0 at home including an upset of No. 7 Arizona before finishing 15-2 following losses to Utah and Oregon. The Beavers were eliminated in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament by Colorado. It is the first meeting between Iona and Oregon State and the first Pac-12 opponent for the Gaels since 1999 when they took on No. 13 UCLA.
Iona opens its home slate the following Friday (Nov. 20) at the Hynes Center against the Colonial Athletic Association’s Delaware. Iona last faced Delaware in its home opener in 2007 and owns a 4-0 record against the Blue Hens all-time. Delaware was 10-20 overall in 2014-15 but owned a 9-9 record in CAA play.
Following an 11-day break, the Maroon & Gold hosts Fairfield on Tuesday, Dec. 1 in New Rochelle in its MAAC opener. The second MAAC December game takes place three days later (Dec. 4) at Marist
Iona’s next contest is in Oklahoma when Iona takes on Tulsa on Dec. 8. In 2014-15, the Golden Hurricane were 24-11 overall and finished second in the American with a 14-4 league mark. They lost to Connecticut in the tournament semifinals and were selected to participate in the National Invitation Tournament. Tulsa defeated William & Mary in the first round only before falling to Murray State.
Eight days later (Dec. 16), Iona returns home to face Texas Southern. The Tigers finished 2014-15 with a 22-13 overall record and were 16-2 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The squad won the SWAC tournament title and earned a 15 seed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
On Saturday, Dec. 19, Iona travels to Rhode Island for the second time in the calendar year. The Gaels’ 2014-15 season ended last year in an NIT First Round loss to the Rams. Iona returns to the Ryan Center in December and is 3-9 all-time vs. Rhody.
The Gaels then head to Las Vegas for the two-game South Point Holiday Hoops Classic at South Point Hotel Casino and Spa on Dec. 22 and 23. Iona takes on UC Santa Barbara in the first game, the first meeting between the two squads. The Gauchos went 19-14 overall and 11-5 in the Big West, finishing second. UCSB lost in the semifinal round to eventual champion UC Irvine in overtime.
The next day, the Gaels take on Akron in the fifth ever meeting between the two programs. The Zips are 4-0 vs. Iona after the last meeting in 2002. Last season, Akron was 21-14 overall and 9-9 in the Mid-American Conference, third in the East Division. The Zips lost in the semifinal to Buffalo.
Iona finishes its non-conference schedule following the Christmas holiday when it completes its home-and-home series with Drexel at the Hynes Center on Dec. 28. The Gaels took the first game last season in Philadelphia. Drexel finished the year 11-19 overall and 9-9 record in the CAA.
The heart of the MAAC slate begins Jan. 2 at Quinnipiac. Iona then has four of its next five games at home and six of its next eight, culminating with a rematch of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 MAAC Championships when they host Manhattan on Jan. 29. All of the home games in February means a tough road stretch for the Gaels with six of their nine contests coming away from New Rochelle. The annual Western New York trip takes place Feb. 5-7.
The 2016 MAAC Championship takes place once again in Albany, NY at the Times Union Center, Mar. 3-7.