Complete Schedule

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson men's basketball program has released its 2014-15 schedule, Head Coach Greg Herenda announced Tuesday. Times have been determined for nine contests, but unofficially, all Northeast Conference weekday games will start at 7 p.m., while Saturday contests against conference foes at Stratis Arena will likely take place in the late afternoon.

The Knights are slated to play 11 nonconference games during the months of November and December, before playing 18 NEC contests in a true round-robin format at the start of the 2015 calendar year. The Burgundy and Blue will play teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Atlantic 10, the Big East, the Big Ten, the Colonial Athletic Conference, the Ivy League, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the Patriot League.

"This year's schedule is extremely competitive and challenging, and that is the way we want it," Herenda said. "Our schedule reflects exactly where we are taking this program, and I think our alums, fans and especially our players will enjoy the journey."

FDU opens the season on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. against Atlantic 10-member Saint Joseph's, a 2014 NCAA Tournament participant. The Knights then play their 2014 home opener against FDU Florham at Stratis Arena on Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. It will be the second time the two campuses have played each other, with the first time coming on Nov. 29, 1993 when the Knights won, 73-67.

FDU stays local on Nov. 19 when it travels to Piscataway, N.J. to match up with Rutgers, who is beginning its first year in the Big Ten. The Knights knocked of the Scarlet Knights, 73-72, last November in the NIT Season Tip-Off for only their second victory in the all-time series.

Six days later on Nov. 25, FDU will make the very short trip to the Upper West Side of Manhattan to take on Columbia. The Knights then return to Stratis Arena on Sunday, Nov. 30 to matchup with Lafayette, before hosting Princeton on Wednesday, Dec. 3 for a 9:30 p.m. tipoff, which will be part of a doubleheader with the women's basketball team, who is taking on nationally-ranked West Virginia at 7 p.m.

A trip to South Bend, Ind. is on the agenda for FDU, as the Knights will play Notre Dame for the first time in program history on Dec. 6. After playing its opponent from the ACC, FDU heads back to the metropolitan area to play St. John's at Carnesecca Arena in Queens, N.Y. on Dec. 10.

After a 10-day layoff because of final exams, the Knights return to the hardwood for a home contest against CAA champion and NCAA Tournament participant Delaware on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. FDU then rounds out the nonconference portion of the schedule with trips to Saint Peter's on Dec. 23 and Towson on Dec. 29.

"Our nonconference schedule has a great blend of regional competition as well as high major appeal," Herenda said. "Last year we proved that we could compete at a high level, and this year we will again be tested."

The Knights begin the NEC slate with a pair of road games beginning on Saturday, Jan. 3 at Central Connecticut, before playing at LIU Brooklyn on Jan. 5 in a rare Monday night contest. FDU then opens the home portion of its NEC schedule on Thursday, Jan. 8.

The Knights return to the road on Jan. 10 to take on Bryant and then host defending conference champion Mount St. Mary's on Thursday, Jan. 15 and Wagner on Saturday, Jan. 17. FDU then plays at Sacred Heart on Jan. 22, before welcoming LIU Brooklyn to Stratis Arena on Saturday, Jan. 24. The Knights close out the month with a pair of games in western Pennsylvania at Robert Morris on Jan. 29 and at Saint Francis U on Jan. 31. The Burgundy and Blue saw its 2013-14 season end in the NEC Tournament last March at Robert Morris.

FDU will then host its two western Pennsylvania rivals over the following two contests. The Knights play the Red Flash on Thursday, Feb. 5 and the Colonials on Saturday, Feb. 7. FDU closes out its three-game homestand on Thursday, Feb. 12 against Bryant.

A trip to Staten Island, N.Y. on Valentine's Day against Wagner starts a three-game road trip. The Knights then stay local to face St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday, Feb. 19 and conclude the trip at Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, Feb. 21.

The regular season ends with two home games against Sacred Heart on Thursday, Feb. 26 and Central Connecticut on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The NEC Tournament will once again feature the top eight teams in the league, with the quarterfinals set to begin on March 5 at the higher seed's home site.