MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary’s men’s basketball unveiled its complete non-conference schedule for the 2024-25 season, featuring a challenging mix of opponents and travel. The schedule includes participation in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas and a road game against Davidson.
Four opponents will be first-time matchups for the Gaels: St. Thomas, Arkansas State, UC Merced, and Florida Atlantic. St. thomas, a recent addition to Division I, transitioned from Division III in 2021 and has recorded consecutive 20-win seasons, finishing as Summit League runner-ups last year. Arkansas State, coming off its first conference regular season title in over two decades, has also achieved back-to-back 20-win seasons and is under new leadership with head coach Ryan Pannone, formerly an assistant at Alabama.
UC Merced will serve as the Gaels’ annual NCAA Division II opponent, currently in its first year at the DII level after previously competing in the NAIA.The Bobcats won 20 games last season, capturing the California Pacific Conference title.Florida Atlantic, a Final Four participant in 2023 and an NIT team in 2024, rounds out the first-time opponents. Florida Atlantic is coached by John Jakus, who previously worked with Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett as director of Basketball Operations under Mark Few.
The Gaels’ last trip to the Eastern Time Zone for a regular season game was in 2018 against Western Kentucky. This season, they will travel to the Eastern time Zone for both the Battle 4 Atlantis and a road contest at Davidson. The last time Saint Mary’s played twice in the Eastern Time zone during the regular season was in 2008, with games against Kent State and Southern Illinois.
Season ticket requests for the 2025-26 season are being accepted at https://smcgaels.com/sb_output.aspx?form=1143.Single-game tickets will be available after the West Coast Conference schedule is released.
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