Sept. 2, 2008

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist Athletics Department released the non-conference portion of the 2008-09 men's basketball schedule on Tuesday. The slate includes a road game at Memphis, which appeared in the national championship game last season. The Red Foxes will also play in the Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden for the second straight year, and will play in the Garden State Tip-Off Classic hosted by Rutgers.

"The 2008-09 schedule is very competitive," Marist first-year head coach Chuck Martin said. "It allows us to match up against some very good Metropolitan teams in St. John's and Rutgers. It also allows us to do something totally different and play Memphis, a national power."

The Red Foxes' first four games of the 2008-09 campaign will be part of the Garden State Tip-Off Classic, and will include a road game, a home game and two neutral site contests. Marist will open at Rutgers of the Big East Conference on Friday, Nov. 14, and will have its home opener against St. Bonaventure of the Atlantic 10 on Monday, Nov. 17. To close out the tournament, Marist will play a pair of neutral-site games at Rutgers. The Red Foxes will play Robert Morris on Saturday, Nov. 22 and Delaware on Sunday, Nov. 23.

Marist will return to the McCann Center for a game against New Hampshire the Saturday immediately following Thanksgiving (Nov. 29). The Red Foxes' next game will be on Dec. 2 at Memphis, giving Martin a chance to return to where he spent the previous two years as an assistant coach.

"It's a great opportunity to play a team of that caliber," Martin said. "Memphis is a top-20 program. We're looking forward to learning a lot from that game."

On Saturday, Dec. 13, Marist will host Cleveland State in a return game of last year's ESPNU BracketBusters contest. The following weekend, the Red Foxes will play in the Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden. Marist will open the tournament against St. John's of the Big East on Dec. 20, and will face either Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference or Columbia of the Ivy League the next day.

Marist will play at Delaware on Tuesday, Dec. 23. Following Christmas, the Red Foxes take on Bucknell at the McCann Center on Sunday, Dec. 28. Two days later, Marist will have a contest at Binghamton.

As part of the ESPNU BracketBusters series, Marist will have a home game against an opponent to be determined in February.

The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will release its schedule at a later date.

2008-09 Marist Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Friday, Nov. 14 - at Rutgers*
Monday, Nov. 17 - ST. BONAVENTURE*
Saturday, Nov. 22 - vs. Robert Morris (at Rutgers)*
Sunday, Nov. 23 - vs. Delaware (at Rutgers)*
Saturday, Nov. 29 - NEW HAMPSHIRE
Tuesday, Dec. 2 - at Memphis
Saturday, Dec. 13 - CLEVELAND STATE
Saturday, Dec. 20 - at St. John's#
Sunday, Dec. 21 - vs. Virginia Tech/Columbia#
Tuesday, Dec. 23 - at Delaware
Sunday, Dec. 28 - BUCKNELL
Tuesday, Dec. 30 - at Binghamton
February (Date TBA) - BRACKETBUSTER (opponent TBA)

Home games are in CAPS
* - Garden State Classic
# - Holiday Festival (at Madison Square Garden)

Red Fox Club memberships for the 2008-09 season are on sale now. For more information, stop by the Marist Ticket Office in the McCann Center, log on to GoRedFoxes.com or call (845) 575-3553.