Men's Basketball | July 20, 2016

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle will play five teams that won their conference's regular season or postseason title, including defending national champion Villanova, during the 2016-17 non-conference men's basketball schedule.
 
"Once again, our schedule features several traditionally elite teams nationally and other winning programs that annually compete for conference championships," head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "This combination should provide us with many challenges and a strong strength of schedule for postseason consideration."
 
La Salle's overall strength of schedule in the past three years has been among the best in the Atlantic 10 and nationally. In 2013-14, it was ranked 31^st followed by 58^th in 2014-15 and 52^nd last season out of 351 Division I teams.
 
The five conference champions from 2015-16 (Villanova, Temple, Texas Southern, Bucknell and Florida Gulf Coast) all reached the postseason, with three earning bids to the NCAA Tournament.
 
The game against Villanova highlights the schedule as the Explorers will host the defending national champions on December 6 at the Palestra. Potential television exposure for this game will be announced at a later date. The game marks just the second time in La Salle history that the Explorers host the defending national champions (1985-86, Villanova).
 
The 2016-17 campaign opens with a short trip down Broad Street to visit Big 5 rival Temple on November 11. The Owls won the American Athletic Conference last season and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16.
 
The home opener is November 15 against Delaware followed by the University's Homecoming game on November 19 vs. Texas Southern. The Tigers won the SWAC regular season last winter and advanced to the NIT.
 
La Salle will remain in town to visit Drexel on November 27 before hosting Lehigh on November 30. Defending Patriot League regular season champs and NIT participant Bucknell come to Gola Arena on December 3.
 
After the Villanova game on December 6, La Salle will take on Georgetown on December 10 in the HoopHall Invitational at American Airlines Arena in Miami.
 
Florida Gulf Coast, an NCAA team after winning the Atlantic Sun last year, visits Philadelphia on December 17. The Explorers will then visit Mercer on December 22 in a homecoming contest for senior guard Jordan Price. Mercer and Lehigh are two La Salle opponents that have recorded recent NCAA Tournament upsets over Duke.
 
The non-conference schedule concludes on January 25 by hosting Big 5 rival Penn.
 
In Atlantic 10 play, La Salle will play five teams twice, once at home and once on the road. Those teams are Fordham, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's and Saint Louis. The Billikens replace Dayton as one of La Salle's home-and-home opponents.

The Explorers will host Davidson, Duquesne, George Washington, and Richmond while traveling to Dayton, George Mason, St. Bonaventure and VCU.
 
Season tickets are now on sale with new competitive pricing and perks.
 
Purchasing a season ticket is the only way to guarantee tickets to the highly-anticipated Villanova game. That game will be priced at $50 to the public but will be included as part of the season ticket plan for $35. It is currently only available via a season ticket.
 
A VIP seat is $350 and requires an additional $500 donation per two seats. The gold package is $275 while the blue package is $200. Both plans feature a $60 discount off single game prices.
 
For faculty/staff and recent graduates (2012-16), the gold ($175) and blue ($125) packages are both significantly discounted.
 
In addition to the discount and Villanova access, all season ticket holders receive a buy one, get one voucher for the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Pittsburgh from March 8-12.
 
All new season ticket holders will also receive a free Under Armour hat (one per seat).
 
Download the season ticket form here or contact the ticket office at 215-951-1999 or tickets@lasalle.edu.