LEWISBURG — The 131st season of Bucknell men’s basketball officially tips off on Monday, Nov. 3, when Delaware visits Sojka Pavilion for a 7 p.m. contest. It is the first of 13 non-conference games on the 2025-26 schedule, which is highlighted by trips to St. John’s, Pittsburgh, Iowa, and the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off, along with a preseason exhibition game at Louisville on Oct. 28.

In addition to the three “power five” conference opponents, the Bison will also square off with Ivy League contenders Princeton and Cornell and two other foes who played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago in Akron and Mount St. Mary’s. Bucknell will once again take on a challenging slate in November and December in preparation for Patriot League play. The Bison were co-regular season champions with a 13-5 PL mark last season.

“Competing against programs from the ACC, Big East, and Big Ten is on brand with Bucknell Basketball,” said coach John Griffin III. “I am very excited to open the season at home against an always competitive Delaware team. Bucknell Basketball has a tradition of testing itself early, and this schedule will help prepare us for Patriot League play.

“Our season begins with a meaningful exhibition at Louisville in support of the Kentuckiana Friends of V and the incredible efforts of Bob Valvano. From there, we face a challenging non-conference slate that includes St. John’s, Pitt, Akron, Hofstra, and a special neutral-site game with Iowa in Ruot Bijiek’s hometown of Des Moines,” Griffin III continued. “The Orange and Blue always travel well, so stay tuned for pregame events and opportunities to connect throughout the season.”

Bucknell and Delaware will be meeting in the season opener for the third straight season. The Blue Hens won in Lewisburg two seasons ago before the Bison returned the favor with a comeback win on opening night last November. Delaware went 5-13 in the Coastal Athletic Conference a year ago before making an inspired run in the CAA Tournament.

The Blue Hens won four straight games, including a 10-point win over top-seeded Towson in the semifinals, but fell 76-72 to UNC Wilmington in the final.

Bucknell will then hit the road for the first time to take on a pair of teams coming off winning seasons. The Bison will travel south on Rt. 15 to face Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 7. The Mount went 23-13 overall and 12-9 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last year.

They routed Iona in the MAAC Tournament championship game and then beat Patriot League rep American 83-72 in the NCAA First Four in Dayton. Princeton finished 19-11 last season and fell to eventual-champion Yale in the Ivy League Tournament semifinals.

The Bison will return home to face Hofstra on Nov. 14. The Pride finished 15-18 last season but posted impressive non-league wins over Seton Hall and Massachusetts.

The week of Nov. 17 will present a challenge, as the Bison visit Pittsburgh on Monday (Nov. 17) and St. John’s on Thursday (Nov. 20). Pitt finished 17-15 overall ad 13-4 at home last season. The Panthers’ season ended with a one-point loss to Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since Bucknell’s 69-66 victory over No. 7/10 Pitt on Jan. 2, 2005. That remains the highest-ranked win in team history.

Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad went 31-5 overall, 18-2 in the Big East, and 18-0 at home last season. The Big East champs were ranked No. 1 nationally during the season and received a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but the Red Storm were upset by Arkansas 75-66 in the second round.

Thanksgiving Week takes Bucknell to the Gulf Coast of Florida for the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Bison will be playing on the Monday (Nov. 24) and Wednesday (Nov. 26) of the holiday week, and they know their opponents will be Buffalo and Bowling Green in some order. Matchups and game times will be announced at a later date.