KINGSTON, R.I. -- Rhode Island has released its 2008-09 men's basketball schedule today, highlighted by games against some of the most storied programs and most historic arenas in college basketball. Additionally, a full slate of competitive non-conference and Atlantic 10 games highlight the home schedule at the Thomas M. Ryan Center this year.

On Nov. 16, Rhode Island will travel to Durham, N.C. to take on Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. It will mark the first time the Rams will face the Blue Devils in regular season play. The previous two meetings both came in the NCAA Tournament - a 63-62 loss on March 12, 1978 and a 73-72 decision on March 24, 1988.

The Rams will face Oklahoma State on Dec. 20 in the O'Reilly All-College Classic in Oklahoma City. In its 74th year, the Classic is one of the oldest college basketball tournaments.

URI will play three games in the historic Palestra - two as part of the 2008 Philly Classic as well as the league matchup at Saint Joseph's. The Philly Classic is a four-game tournament which features one road game - at Monmouth (Nov. 20) - and one home game - versus Hartford (Nov. 25) - before heading to Philadelphia for two games on Nov. 28-29. Rhody will take on Penn State on Nov. 28 and will face either Villanova or Towson on Nov. 29.

Rhode Island will play two preseason exhibition tilts - vs. Concordia (Que.) on Nov. 3 and Rhode Island College on Nov. 7 - before opening up regular season play in Kingston against Brown on Nov. 14. It will mark the 150th time the Bears and Rams will meet on the hardwood.

After a trip to Northeastern on Dec. 3, Rhode Island will travel to Providence on Dec. 6 to face the Friars for the 121st time in the history of the two in-state programs. New Hampshire (Dec. 9), Central Connecticut (Dec. 13), and Akron (Jan. 3) round out the home non-conference schedule. URI will travel to Fairleigh Dickinson (Dec. 30) and Toledo (Jan. 6) before embarking on the 16-game Atlantic 10 schedule.

In Atlantic 10 action, URI will host two teams - Temple and Xavier - that were among the field of 65 last year. Dayton and Massachusetts, which both participated in the NIT, will travel to Kingston. Additionally, Fordham, La Salle, St. Bonaventure, and Saint Louis will visit the Thomas M. Ryan Center.

Xavier kicks off URI's home A-10 slate on Jan. 15. Other home A-10 opponents: Fordham (Jan. 18), Temple (Jan. 28), La Salle (Jan. 31), St. Bonaventure (Feb. 11), Saint Louis (Feb. 14), Dayton (Feb. 25), and Massachusetts (March 7)

On the road in league play, Rhody will face five postseason opponents. The Rams kick off A-10 play on Jan. 10 in the City of Brotherly Love against Saint Joseph's. Other road A-10 contests: at Richmond (Jan. 21), at George Washington (Jan. 24), at Charlotte (Feb. 4), at Temple (Feb. 8), at Massachusetts (Feb. 18), at Fordham (Feb. 21), and at Duquesne (Feb. 28).

The three schools that Rhode Island will face both home and away in conference play are Fordham, Massachusetts, and Temple.

Rhode Island is still planning on adding an additional home non-conference game. That game will be announced shortly on GoRhody.com

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2008-09 Rhode Island Men's Basketball Schedule
November
3 Concordia (Que.) (exh.)
7 Rhode Island College (exh)

14 Brown
16 at Duke

2008 Philly Classic
20 at Monmouth
25 Hartford
28 vs. Penn State (Palestra)
29 Villanova/Towson (Palestra)

December
3 at Northeastern
6 at Providence
9 New Hampshire
13 Central Connecticut

O'Reilly's All-College Classic
20 vs. Oklahoma State (Oklahoma City)

30 at Fairleigh Dickinson

January
3 Akron
6 at Toledo
10 at Saint Joseph's*
15 Xavier*
18 Fordham*
21 at Richmond*
24 at George Washington*
28 Temple*
31 La Salle*

February
5 at Charlotte*
8 at Temple*
11 St. Bonaventure*
14 Saint Louis*
18 at Massachusetts*
21 at Fordham*
25 Dayton*
28 at Duquesne*

March
7 Massachusetts*

Atlantic 10 Championship
March 11-14, 2009 - Boardwalk Hall - Atlantic City, N.J.

* - denotes Atlantic 10 contest

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