Robert Morris matched against Big Ten foes Wisconsin, Penn State during nonconference basketball schedule

Robert Morris’ nonconference men’s basketball schedule features games against Wisconsin of the Big Ten and Xavier of the Big East, following a special exhibition against Penn State to support the American Cancer Society.

The Colonials open their 48th season of NCAA Division I competition Oct. 27 at the UPMC Events Center. Penn State, which reached the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 while winning 22 games last season, will visit Robert Morris in a game to benefit cancer research and programs.

Robert Morris opens its regular season Nov. 6 at Xavier, a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament participant a year ago. The game will be played at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati.

The Colonials’ home opener is Nov. 9 against Point Park before they travel to Towson on Nov. 12 and Wisconsin on Nov. 17.

“As always, we look to challenge ourselves as best we can to prepare for the difficulty of the Horizon League season,” coach Andy Toole said. “We are excited to have a great balance of home and road games, including hosting a home MTE (multi-team event) for the first time since I have been at RMU.”

The Colonials will be hosts for the Urban-Bennett Memorial Classic, facing Jacksonville on Nov. 24 and Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 26 at the Events Center. Also on the nonconference schedule is a trip to Canisius on Dec. 6 and home games against Delaware on Dec. 11 and Saint Vincent on Dec. 17.

The final road game of the nonconference schedule will be at Saint Francis on Dec. 20 before the Colonials come home to face Cornell on Dec. 22.