URI Men’s Basketball Announces 2020-2021 Non-Conference Home Schedule

KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island’s home non-conference schedule for the men’s basketball season includes visits from teams in the BIG EAST and the Mountain West Conference.

A visit from Seton Hall – which finished last season ranked No. 15 in both national polls – highlights the home non-conference schedule. The Pirates come to Kingston on Dec. 1, marking their third visit to the Ryan Center. Both teams are coming off of 21-9 campaigns in which each finished third in the final standings of their respective conferences.

This year’s game marks the start of a home-and-home series that has Rhode Island heading to the Prudential Center next season. The last meeting between the teams was memorable, as Jared Terrell hit a running floater in the final seconds to lift Rhode Island to a 75-74 win in the 2017 NIT Season Tip-Off in Barclays Center.

Also coming to the Ryan Center this year is Boise State on Dec. 6. That game is part of the inaugural year of the Mountain West-Atlantic 10 Challenge Series. Boise State went 20-12 and reached the semifinals of the Mountain West championship last season, defeating UNLV in the quarterfinals.

The Rams are scheduled to open the 2020-21 season at the Ryan Center against Drexel on Nov. 10. The game will be part of a doubleheader with the URI women’s team, which will host in-state rival Providence.

Quinnipiac will come to the Ryan Center on Nov. 13. Both teams are involved in the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off, but this contest is not considered part of the Tip-Off, due to recent changes by the NCAA regarding multi-team event regulations.

Rhode Island’s next three games will be considered part of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off. Lehigh comes to Kingston on Nov. 18 before the Rams head to Uncasville, Conn. to play Marquette at Mohegan Sun Arena on Nov. 21. The next day, Rhody will play either Minnesota or the AAC’s UCF, depending on tournament results. The non-conference schedule will finish with a home game against in-state rival Brown on Dec. 22.

As is the case with all programs nationally, Rhode Island faced significant challenges piecing together the non-conference schedule as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn said Rhode Island will be flexible if the situation warrants.

“We have a responsibility to be prepared for all possible situations in what is a historic time in our lives,” Bjorn said. “The process has been challenging for everyone, and there may be unknown challenges still in front of us. We are planning for a regular start to the year. If changes are called for because of circumstances beyond our control, we will adjust accordingly.”

Rhode Island is still finalizing it’s non-conference road schedule. Those games and dates will be announced once all contracts are completed. The Rams also will have nine home Atlantic 10 contests. The conference pairings are expected to be released later in June, and the dates and times of the conference games will be released in late summer or early fall.

2020-21 Men’s Basketball Home Schedule
Nov. 10 – Drexel
Nov. 13 – Quinnipiac
Nov. 18 – Lehigh*
Dec. 1 – Seton Hall
Dec. 6 – Boise State**
Dec. 22 – Brown
* – Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament
** – Mountain West-Atlantic 10 Challenge