Trips to take on the defending Ivy League champions and an in-state rival, a three-game stint in Florida and a closing three-game homestand are among the highlights in the University of Rhode Island men’s basketball nonconference schedule released Aug. 11.
Yale, Providence, the ESPN Events Invitational and an extended stretch at the Ryan Center before Atlantic 10 play make up the majority of the 13-game slate. The Rams open Nov. 3 against Stetson, welcoming the Hatters on a Monday night.
URI basketball coach Archie Miller (foreground) with his assistants during a game last season.
URI plays three of its first four at home, leaving only for a neutral court on Nov. 7 to face Tulsa at the Veteran’s Classic. Navy will host that four-team event in Maryland, and the Green Wave are coming off a fifth straight sub-.500 conference season in the American. Stonehill and Albany follow before a first real test.
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The Bulldogs are their league’s current gold standard under James Jones, an NCAA Tournament qualifier five times since 2015-16 and a 19-game winner in each of the last six seasons. Yale lost just once against conference foes last year and captured the tournament title on an Ivy Madness weekend hosted by Brown. The Rams dealt the Bulldogs an 84-78 defeat in early December as part of a strong nonconference start.
URI will spend an extended Thanksgiving break in Orlando against an eight-team field, with Disney playing host to multiple events simultaneously. Bradley, Liberty, Princeton, Temple, Towson, San Diego and Vermont will all compete alongside the Rams in the Adventure Bracket. Matchups will be determined at a later date.
A home date with Brown on Dec. 2 kicks off five straight games within state lines, as URI attempts to avenge a double-overtime loss at Pizzitola Center last season. The Rams follow with a short trip to face the Friars and a latest bid to snap a two-decade hex at Amica Mutual Pavilion. URI hasn’t won on the road against Providence since 2002-03, a 73-71 thriller that’s been followed by 10 straight losses.
McNeese State, Canisius and Northeastern visit the Rams over a two-week stretch in December, with the Huskies leading into a short Christmas break on Dec. 22. The Cowboys are coming off a 58-11 mark over the last two seasons under Will Wade, who has since departed for North Carolina State. McNeese State was among the eight teams drawn to play in Providence during the most recent edition of March Madness.
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The Rams won all eight nonconference home games last season as part of a quick start but staggered in league play, closing 18-13 overall and just 7-12 against conference foes in Archie Miller’s third year. URI suffered just that 84-80 loss against the Bears before falling by double digits on the road against Duquesne in the league opener. A win over George Mason couldn’t steady the ship, and the Rams were eliminated from the conference tournament in a disappointing 88-71 loss against Fordham.
Game times and broadcast information will be released at a later date. Visit gorhody.com for more information.
URI MEN”S BASKETBALL NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Nov. 3 – Stetson
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Nov. 7 – Tulsa (Veteran’s Classic)
Nov. 11 – Stonehill
Nov. 14 – Albany
Nov. 18 – at Yale
Nov. 24 – ESPN Events Invitational (Orlando)
Nov. 25 – ESPN Events Invitational (Orlando)
Nov. 26 – ESPN Events Invitational (Orlando)
Dec. 2 – Brown
Dec. 6 – at Providence
Dec. 9 – McNeese State
Dec. 16 – Canisius
Dec. 22 – Northeastern
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island Rams men’s basketball 2025 nonconference schedule
