UNIVERSITY PARK — The Penn State men’s basketball team has unveiled its 2024-25 non-conference schedule which features seven home games inside the Bryce Jordan Center, trips to Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, and a Thanksgiving-week tournament in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The Nittany Lions officially open the 2024-25 slate under second-year head coach Mike Rhoades on Monday, Nov. 4, inside the Bryce Jordan Center when Penn State hosts Binghamton to kick off a three-game, season-opening homestand. The Nittany Lions will welcome UMBC on Friday, Nov. 8, and local foe Saint Francis on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Penn State takes its first road trip of the season on Friday, Nov. 15, when the Nittany Lions face Virginia Tech in the previously-announced Hall of Fame Series Baltimore. The Nittany Lions and Hokies will square off inside CFG Bank Arena with tickets for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s first-ever event in Charm City.
Penn State returns home to host Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in an on-campus matchup in the 2024 Sunshine Slam. As previously announced, Penn State will head to Daytona Beach, Florida on Monday, Nov. 25, and Tuesday, Nov. 26, for two games in the Sunshine Slam. The Nittany Lions face Fordham on Monday, Nov. 25, and will then play either Clemson or San Francisco on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Penn State then returns home to the Bryce Jordan Center to host Buffalo on Sunday, Dec. 1, and Coppin State on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The Nittany Lions will head to familiar territory in Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 21, when Penn State faces Drexel inside the Wells Fargo Center, the home of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Penn State closes out non-conference play at home on Sunday, Dec. 29, when the Nittany Lions host in-state foe Penn.
The Nittany Lions enter their second season under Peter and Ann Tombros Endowed Head Coach Mike Rhoades in 2024-25. Rhoades guided the Nittany Lions to the second-most Big Ten wins by a first-year head coach in program history during his first season in 2023-24. Penn State returns nearly 60 percent of its scoring production from a season ago as five key players return, headlined by reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Ace Baldwin Jr.
LADY LIONS
Penn State women’s basketball also released its non-conference schedule for the 2024-25 season highlighted by seven home contests and two road matchups. The Lady Lions will face four teams they saw during the 2023-24 season and five teams that were not on the previous season’s schedule.
Penn State begins its non-conference slate with five-straight home games, kicking off on Monday, Nov. 4, against Bucknell. The Lady Lions also matched up against the Bison in their 2023-24 season opener. PSU will play host to Canisius on Thursday, Nov. 7, Duquesne on Sunday, Nov. 10, Niagara on Thursday, Nov. 14, and Monmouth on Monday, Nov. 18, to follow. Penn State will take on Drexel on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and St. John’s on Monday, Dec. 2, to conclude its out-of-conference home slate. The Lady Lions hit the road to face Providence on Thursday, Dec. 11, and conclude non-conference play at Kansas on Sunday, Dec. 15.
The Lady Lions were 4-0 last season against non-conference opponents in common with this year’s slate. Penn State defeated Bucknell, St. John’s, Providence and Kansas in 2023-24. Canisius, Duquesne, Niagara, Monmouth and Drexel were not on last season’s schedule. The contest between the Lady Lions and the Canisius Griffins will be the first meeting between the two squads in program history.
Penn State will play in a showcase in the month of November which will be announced at a later date.
PSU MEN’S 2024-25 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Monday, Nov. 4 vs. Binghamton
Friday, Nov. 8 vs. UMBC
Tuesday, Nov. 12 vs. Saint Francis (Pa.)
Friday, Nov. 15 vs. Virginia Tech — Hall of Fame Series
Wednesday, Nov. 20 Purdue Fort Wayne — Sunshine Slam
Monday, Nov. 25 vs. Fordham — Sunshine Slam
Tuesday, Nov. 26 vs. Clemson or San Francisco — Sunshine Slam
Sunday, Dec. 1 vs. Buffalo
Saturday, Dec. 14 vs. Coppin State
Saturday, Dec. 21 at Drexel
Sunday, Dec. 29 vs. Penn
PSU WOMEN’S 2024-25 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Monday, Nov. 4 vs. Bucknell
Thursday, Nov. 7 vs. Canisius
Sunday, Nov. 10 vs. Duquesne
Thursday, Nov. 14 vs. Niagara
Monday, Nov. 18 vs. Monmouth
Wednesday, Nov. 27 vs. Drexel
Monday, Dec. 2 vs. St. John’s
Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Providence
Sunday, Dec. 15 at Kansas
