SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The St. Bonaventure men's basketball team has a date worth circling on the calendar with a marquee event added to the 2024-25 non-conference schedule: the Bonnies will appear in the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase Saturday, Dec. 14 vs. Providence. The game will be held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

"We are excited to participate in this season's Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase at Mohegan Sun," St. Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt said. "These are exactly the types of games we strive to play every year.  Providence is a storied program with good players who are very well coached.  This will be a great challenge, but one we are looking forward to. I anticipate a large contingent of Bona Nation in the building that day. Thanks to the BHOF for another great opportunity."    

Providence, led by former George Mason head coach Kim English, finished last season at 21-14 and a 10-10 record in the Big East. The Friars were considered one of the top teams left out of the NCAA Tournament after defeating No. 8/6 Creighton in the Big East tourney.

The Bonnies and Friars have shared memorable battles in past years.

This year's meeting will be the 24^th contest between the programs all-time, but the first since 1980. In a 1960 matchup, Bona Hall of Famer Tom Stith had a performance for the ages with a 46-point showing as St. Bonaventure won a game between nationally-ranked teams in triple overtime, 90-89, at the Olean Armory. The Bonnies also captured a 1978 win in the Reilly Center over a top-20 ranked Providence club.

A triumph over Providence also came as one of Bona's 23 straight wins during an undefeated 1967-68 season and SBU claimed another win in the series during the magical Final Four season of 1969-70.

Bona's won the last meeting between the teams, 81-75, on Jan. 4, 1980, led by 34 points from SBU Hall of Famer Earl Belcher. The first-ever meeting came in February 1958 when SBU won a home meeting vs. the Friars, 67-57.

While the teams have a storied series history, this will be the first neutral court matchup. Bona owns a 12-11 advantage all-time.

The Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase is one of the Hall of Fame's series of collegiate events each season and continues a partnership between St. Bonaventure and the Hoop Hall.

Last year, the Bonnies took on Florida Atlantic in the Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield. In previous years, the Bonnies have been invited to play in several BHOF events: vs. Iona at Barclays Center (2022), vs. Virginia Tech in Charlotte (2021), vs. Rutgers in Toronto (2019) and the Boca Beach Classic where the Bonnies claimed the tournament title in 2019.

Tickets for the 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase will go on sale Friday, September 6, via Ticketmaster and on sale at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office starting Saturday, September 7.

Details surrounding the game time, broadcast information, and credentials will be provided at a later date. For more information, please visit hoophall.com.

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