Men's Basketball | 8/28/2026 11:59:00 AM

ERIE, Pa. – Coming off the first national championship in program history, the Gannon men's basketball team will face another strong collection of regional and national opponents as the Golden Knights prepare for the 2026-27 season.

Gannon enters the 2026-27 campaign as the defending NCAA Division II National Champion after completing a historic 2025-26 season with a 34-3 record. The national championship was the first basketball national title and first team national championship in Gannon Athletics history.

The Golden Knights established a program record for victories in a season while finishing as the PSAC runner-up and making their 28th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Gannon advanced to the Elite Eight or further for the seventh time in program history before winning its final six games to secure the national championship.

Gannon put together three separate winning streaks during its championship season, highlighted by 10 consecutive victories early in the year and a 15-game winning streak from Jan. 14 through March 8.

The 2026-27 schedule features trips to Florida and Buffalo along with a strong home slate at the Highmark Events Center. The Golden Knights open the year with four games away from home before returning to Erie for a stretch that includes seven of their next eight contests at the Highmark Events Center.

"We are really excited for this upcoming season and the challenges the schedule will bring," head coach Easton Bazzoli said. "Right from the beginning, we will be playing in the most prestigious in-season event in all of Division II basketball at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Florida. We were honored to get the invitation to come back to this event.

"From there, our non-conference schedule will have a home-and-away balance with really good teams all over. We are excited for the best Thanksgiving classic in the country every year in the Gary Miller Classic, hosting some great regional teams. We cannot wait to get started again and to see everyone in the Highmark Events Center!"

The regular season gets underway at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Florida, with the defending national champions immediately facing a pair of 2026 NCAA Tournament teams.

Gannon opens the 2026-27 campaign against Central Missouri on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. The Mules advanced to the Central Region semifinals a season ago. The Golden Knights return to action on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 3:30 p.m. against Point Loma, which finished as the West Region runner-up in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The Golden Knights remain on the road the following weekend, traveling to Buffalo, New York, for the East Region Challenge Presented by WNY Knee & Orthopedic Surgery PC, hosted by Daemen. Gannon faces D'Youville in a neutral-site contest on Friday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. before taking on host Daemen on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.

Gannon makes its first appearance at the Highmark Events Center on Saturday, Nov. 21 when Saint Anselm visits Erie for an 11:30 AM match-up. The Hawks lost to Daemen in the East Region championship game to finish 28-5.

Gannon remains at home over Thanksgiving weekend to host the 41st Gary Miller Classic at the Highmark Events Center. The Golden Knights open the tournament against Findlay on Friday, Nov. 27 at 5 p.m.

The teams met early last season in a matchup of nationally ranked opponents, with No. 22 Gannon defeating No. 23 Findlay 101-79.

The Golden Knights then face Charleston (W.Va.) on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. Charleston is coming off an appearance in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional, where Gannon defeated the Golden Eagles 83-58 in the quarterfinals on its way to the national championship.

December brings the start of PSAC crossover action. Gannon opens conference play with back-to-back home games, hosting Kutztown on Friday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. and West Chester on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.

A trip to Saginaw Valley State follows on Saturday, Dec. 12 before Gannon returns home to host Bloomsburg on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 5 p.m.

The Golden Knights close out the calendar year with a pair of PSAC road contests. Gannon travels to Mansfield on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. before facing new PSAC member Lackawanna on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m. in Scranton. The Falcons join the PSAC beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, giving the Golden Knights a new conference opponent.

The New Year begins with another road contest as Gannon travels to East Stroudsburg on Saturday, Jan. 2 at 3 p.m. before turning its attention to PSAC West play.

Western Division action begins with back-to-back road games. The Golden Knights travel to Seton Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. before visiting Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 3 p.m.

Gannon returns to the Highmark Events Center for a pair of games, hosting California (Pa.) on Tuesday, Jan. 12 and Edinboro on Thursday, Jan. 14. Both contests are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The PSAC West will have a new look in 2026-27 with Lock Haven joining the Western Division. Gannon makes its first divisional trip to Lock Haven on Saturday, Jan. 16 for a 3 p.m. contest.

The Golden Knights return to action on Saturday, Jan. 23 against Clarion before hosting Slippery Rock on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Gannon then travels to Indiana (Pa.) on Thursday, Jan. 28 before closing January at home against Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 3 p.m.

The second half of PSAC West play gets underway on Wednesday, Feb. 3 when Seton Hill visits the Highmark Events Center for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

Gannon then heads on the road for games at California (Pa.) on Saturday, Feb. 6 and Edinboro on Wednesday, Feb. 10 before returning home to face new PSAC West opponent Lock Haven on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 3 p.m.

The Golden Knights face Clarion on Saturday, Feb. 20 before hosting IUP in their regular-season home finale on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. The regular season concludes on Saturday, Feb. 27 with a 3 p.m. contest at Slippery Rock.

The 2027 PSAC Tournament is scheduled for March 1-7, followed by the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional from March 12-16. The regional champion will advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

The 2027 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship will be held March 23-27 at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and Allen County War Memorial Coliseum serving as hosts.