Pittsburgh, Pa. – Nine home games at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, a two-game road trip out West and the annual neutral site game at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, highlight the non-conference schedule for the Duquesne University men's basketball team, announced Tuesday.

The Dukes will open their 110th season of NCAA Division I basketball and second season under head coach Dru Joyce III Monday, Nov. 3, against Niagara at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. Duquesne owns an all-time record of 13-7 (.650) against the Purple Eagles in a series that dates to 1918 and resumes for the first time in almost 20 years. In the last meeting between the two programs, the Dukes earned a 76-65 victory over Niagara at the A.J. Palumbo Center Nov. 24, 2007.

The 2025-26 season opener vs. Niagara begins a three-game homestand, including a pair of games as part of the Villanova MTE. The Dukes will welcome Sacred Heart Friday, Nov. 7, and Queens Tuesday, Nov. 11, as part of the tournament before their first road test of the season, which comes Saturday, Nov. 15, in Philadelphia, Pa., at Villanova.

Duquesne has faced off against the Pioneers just once in school history, a 74-63 victory in the opening round of the 2002 San Juan Shootout in Caguas, Puerto Rico, while the Dukes and Royals will tip on the hardwood for the first time.

The all-time series between Duquesne and Villanova is tied, 25-25, with the series reigniting in November for the first time since 1994. The last contest between the two programs came in the first round of the 1994 National Invitation Tournament (NIT), an 88-62 win for the Wildcats at the Palumbo Center. The last meeting between the two programs in Philadelphia, Pa., came when both programs were members of the Atlantic 10, with the Dukes earning a 77-72 victory Dec. 15, 1979.

RELATED: Duquesne 2025 Non-Conference Schedule

Four of Duquesne's next five games after visiting Villanova come at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, including contests against Loyola (Md.) (Nov. 19), Central State (Nov. 26), William & Mary (Dec. 2) and Stony Brook (Dec. 6). Those four home games are only broken up by the program's annual game at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, as the Dukes will take on Northeastern Saturday, Nov. 22, at Lebron James Arena for the Morgan & Morgan Classic. The Dukes are 6-0 in games played in Akron, Ohio, since 2018, including 5-0 at Lebron James Arena.

A two-game road trip that includes contests at Boise State (Dec. 10) and Nevada (Dec. 13) come after Duquesne's first-ever meeting with Stony Brook, and a pair of games at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse vs. Canisius (Dec. 22) and Cleary (Dec. 27) conclude the non-conference portion of the slate. The Dukes have never played the Broncos, which were also part of the field last season at the Cayman Islands Classic, while Duquesne is 2-0 all-time against the Wolf Pack. The Dukes earned a 46-45 overtime victory over Nevada in the first meeting between the two programs Dec. 16, 1946, before posting a 110-77 triumph Dec. 16, 1971. Each of those victories came in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Atlantic 10, which is celebrating its 50th season in 2025-26, released conference pairings last month, with the Dukes facing Dayton, Davidson, Saint Louis, St. Bonaventure and Rhode Island twice during the league slate. A full Atlantic 10 schedule will be announced at a later date.

Deposits for season tickets for the 2025-26 season are now being accepted. Fans wishing to renew, upgrade or purchase season tickets for the first time can use the following link to secure seats for next year.

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