ST. BONAVENTURE (0-0) vs. YOUNGSTOWN STATE (0-0)
Monday, Nov. 2 – 7:00 p.m.
St. Bonaventure, N.Y. – Reilly Center
TV: ESPN+
RADIO: Bonnies Online Network/100.1 FM Bradford/1430 AM Jamestown/106.9 FM Hornell/92.1 FM Rochester

The St. Bonaventure University men's basketball team officially kicks off the 2026-27 season Monday, Nov. 2 when it hosts Youngstown State. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Reilly Center.

LAST TIME OUT
The Bonnies took down Division II Point Park, 94-49, Oct. 24 in the team's final exhibition contest of the preseason.

Taj Au-Duke led all scorers with 17 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Also in double figures for the Brown and White were Akbar Waheed III with 16 points and Ilia Ermakov with 10 points.

Bona's finished the game shooting 52.9 percent (36-for-68) from the field while outrebounding the Pioneers, 51-27. The Bonnies assisted on 24 of their 36 field goals and committed just 12 turnovers.

A NEW ERA
Monday night officially begins the Mike MacDonald era at St. Bonaventure. In 12 seasons at Daemen, MacDonald racked up 275 victories, including going 61-3 in his last two seasons and a Division II Elite Eight appearance in 2025-26. His 61 wins over the past two seasons are fourth-most in the NCAA at any level, and Daemen's win percentage of .968 during that span is second only behind Division II Nova Southeastern.

DEFEND HOME COURT
Since 2020, the Bonnies have defended the Reilly Center, posting a 64-22 record (.744%). The Bonnies have begun the season at home in five out of the last six seasons, touting a perfect 5-0 record at The RC in season openers.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE NOTES

• Youngstown State enters the new season off the backs of a 92-76 loss in an exhibition matchup with Akron Oct. 27. The Penguins finished last season 15-17 overall and 8-12 in Horizon League play. YSU was picked to finish ninth in the Horizon League preseason poll.
• Jaiden Haynes is the lone returner for Youngstown State, appearing in 21 games and making a pair of starts a season ago. The Penguins reloaded the roster with eight transfers and four true freshmen.
• Ethan Faulkner enters his third season as the head coach after spending two seasons as associate head coach as well as three seasons as assistant coach. Faulkner is 36-30 in two season as head coach.

SERIES HISTORY
Monday will be the ninth meeting all-time between the Bonnies and the Penguins. Bona's leads the all-time series 7-1 and have won the last five matchups between the two schools.

The Bonnies and Penguins met last season at the Reilly Center with the Bonnies coming out on top, 84-80.

UP NEXT
The Bonnies head out on the road for the first time in 2026-27 Saturday, Nov. 7 when they travel to take on Canisius. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. in Buffalo.

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