A lot of things will look familiar this year for the EMU Runnin Royals. EMU’s basketball men return all five of their starters in 2016-17 and return a number of non-conference opponents as well, including D-I James Madison University.
The Royals released their season schedule today, packed with 26 games, which opens Nov. 15 at Mary Washington. As part of a rotation with EMU’s women, the men will host a tip-off classic on the year’s opening weekend, welcoming Methodist and Gallaudet on Nov. 18 and 19.
Bridgewater College will be the fourth team at that weekend event, although the two rivals will not play each other in the invitational schedule.
A highlight for the second straight season will be a game at James Madison. Last year the D-I Dukes added a game with Eastern Mennonite, giving the two a regular season meeting for the first time since 1974. While last season’s contest was over Thanksgiving Break, this year’s meeting will be over Christmas Break, on Dec. 28.
The Runnin Royals will once again head to Bridgewater’s Don Glick Classic on Dec. 9 and 10, before traveling to the Rotary of Frederick Holiday Classic hosted by Hood College on Dec. 17 and 18. EMU won that classic two years ago.
In a stark change from last season, the men do not have any extended road trips nor home stands, never playing more than two in a row at home or four in a row away from Yoder Arena. Even that four-game road spell in December includes the two games at the Don Glick Classic, played in nearby Bridgewater, only 10 miles from EMU’s campus.
Like in years past, the ODAC schedule has two contests before Christmas break, with the opener at talented Guilford on Nov. 30. EMU then hosts Randolph-Macon on Dec. 6.
The second semester starts with a hosting of Bridgewater on Jan. 4. Other home games include Ferrum (non-conference), Virginia Wesleyan, Washington and Lee, Shenandoah, Roanoke, Lynchburg and Randolph.
The Runnin Royals end the regular season with road games at Roanoke and Emory & Henry.
The ODAC Tournament begins on Monday, Feb. 20, with the 5-12 seeds playing in First Round games. The Quarterfinals for the men are Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Salem Civic Center, with the Semifinals and Championship that Saturday and Sunday.
With last year’s roster consisting of entirely freshmen and sophomores, Eastern Mennonite finished a solid 11-14. They lost four games by two points or less, and fell at Randolph-Macon in the First Round of the ODAC Tournament, 84-68. They were 6-10 in the ODAC.
Season tickets to EMU basketball games will be available starting Tuesday, November 1.
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