UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State men's basketball team tips off its 2019-20 slate with two home games the first week of the season, with the opener on Tuesday, Nov. 5 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore. The Bryce Jordan Center will play host to eight of the Nittany Lions' 11 nonconference games with four home games each in November and December.
With the return of All-Big Ten first-team selection Lamar Stevens and Big Ten All-Defensive Team member Mike Watkins, and the nucleus of the Nittany Lion squad that won seven of its last 10 conference games, Penn State recently received a No. 5 preseason Big Ten projection by CBS Sports and Sports Illustrated college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein.
Four starters return for the Nittany Lions as they welcome Wagner for the first weekend game on Saturday, Nov. 9. On the road for its 2019 Gavitt Tipoff game, Penn State will play at Georgetown on Thursday, Nov. 14.
Two home games, part of the NIT Season Tip-Off, bring Bucknell, co-champion of the Patriot League, and Yale, co-champion of the Ivy League, to the BJC. Bucknell will visit for a Tuesday, Nov. 19 game and Yale for a Saturday, Nov. 23 contest.
The Nittany Lions meet Mississippi on Wednesday, Nov 27, the first night of the Barclays Center games in Brooklyn, to set up a meeting with either Oklahoma State or Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 29.
Penn State opens the month of December at home with its first game against Wake Forest since the 1989-90 season, and the first meeting between the two teams in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The nonconference slate resumes after all Big Ten teams play two early December conference games, with a home and away game to be announced later this summer.
For the first time since 1982, Alabama travels to University Park. The return game of the two-game series will take place in December, either on Saturday, Dec. 14 or Sunday, Dec. 15.
Following final exams, and before the fall commencement ceremony, the BJC will play host to a Friday night contest versus Central Connecticut State on Dec. 20. This will be the third meeting between Penn State and CCSU, the last in 2010.
The Nittany Lions close the 2019 calendar year, and their nonconference portion of their schedule, hosting Cornell on Sunday, Dec. 29. Cornell and Penn State have played 11 times overall, with the last three meetings all in the BJC.
Game times and broadcast arrangements for 2019-20 Penn State home nonconference games will be announced at a later date.
Fans who are interested in purchasing new season tickets for 2019-20 may contact the Athletics Ticket Office online at gopsusports.com/climbwithus or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Keep up to date with the latest information from Coach Patrick Chambers and the Nittany Lions on Twitter by following @Coach_Chambers and @PennStateMBB, liking the team's page on Facebook and following the team Instagram account at @PennStateMBB.
2019-20 Penn State Men's Basketball Nonconference Schedule
Tuesday, Nov. 5 – MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE (BJC)
Saturday, Nov. 9 – WAGNER (BJC)
Thursday, Nov. 14 – at Georgetown (Gavitt Tipoff)
Tuesday, Nov. 19 – BUCKNELL, NIT Season Tip-Off (BJC)
Saturday, Nov. 23 – YALE, NIT Season Tip-Off (BJC)
Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Mississippi, NIT Season Tip-Off (Barclays Center, Brooklyn)
Friday, Nov. 29 – Oklahoma State/Syracuse, NIT Season Tip-Off (Barclays Center, Brooklyn)
Wednesday, Dec. 4 – WAKE FOREST (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)
Saturday, Dec. 14 or Sunday, Dec. 15 – ALABAMA
Friday, Dec. 20 – CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE
Sunday, Dec. 29 – CORNELL
HOME games in ALL CAPS.
Home game times and broadcast arrangements to be announced at a later date.
