David Silverman Photography
David Silverman Photography

NEC unveils 18-game men's basketball schedule

SOMERSET, N.J. – In conjunction with a league-wide announcement, the Bryant University men's basketball team announced its 18-game Northeast Conference schedule on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bulldogs will play all nine NEC members in a true double round-robin regular-season schedule, beginning on Dec. 29 and Dec. 31. Bryant enjoyed a historic season 2020-21, going 10-4 in NEC play and advancing and hosting the NEC Championship for the first time in program history.

Built to take the next step thanks to a bevy of experienced returners and an influx of talented transfers, the Black and Gold will begin their quest for an NEC title on Dec. 29 when they visit Central Connecticut. Bryant will then celebrate New Years Eve at home against long-time rival Sacred Heart.

Bryant will spend the first weekend of January at Wagner (Jan. 6) and Fairleigh Dickinson (Jan. 8) before returning to the Chace for an NEC Championship rematch with Mount St. Mary's (Jan. 15). The Bulldogs will close the two-game weekend with Saint Francis U (Jan. 17).

That will be the start of a stretch in which the Bulldogs will play five-of-six in Smithfield. After a quick trip to Merrimack on Jan. 21, Bryant returns to the Chace Athletic Center to face St. Francis Brooklyn (Jan. 23), Merrimack (Jan. 27) and Long Island (Jan. 29).

Bryant will then embark on its longest road trip of league play, starting with a tough two-game weekend at Saint Francis U (Feb. 3) and Mount St. Mary's (Feb. 5). The four-game trip ends the following weekend at Sacred Heart (Feb. 10) and Long Island (Feb. 12).

The Black and Gold will play three of their final four games at the Chace Athletic Center. They'll welcome CCSU (Feb. 17) and Fairleigh Dickinson (Feb. 19) for a weekend before closing the year with a split weekend with St. Francis Brooklyn (away Feb. 24) and Wagner (home Feb. 26).

The 2022 Northeast Conference Championships will be held March 2, 5 and 8.