CLEVELAND — The St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team has finalized its 2025–26 non-conference schedule with the addition of another marquee event as the Bonnies will take on Ohio on Dec. 13 at Rocket Arena as part of the Cleveland Hoops Showdown.

Along with the Bonnies and Bobcats, Ohio State will face West Virginia in the second half of the event’s doubleheader.

Game times and television designations will be announced at a later date. Tickets for the event are set to go on sale Oct. 9, with a 24-hour presale confirmed for Oct. 8. Fans are encouraged to register at www.bit.ly/25ClevelandShowdown to receive email alerts regarding the event and to be eligible to receive ticket presale access for Oct. 8.

For the Bonnies, it is a return to another NBA venue — and one the program is familiar with. St. Bonaventure has enjoyed success at the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, last playing in Rocket Arena in 2023 when the Bonnies secured a thrilling 62-61 win over Akron. Bona also defeated Akron at Rocket Arena in the 2020–21 season opener.

The Bonnies are guided by longtime head coach Mark Schmidt, the winningest coach in program history and a fixture in the A-10 since 2007. The Bonnies have won 324 games in Schmidt’s 18 seasons, reached the 20-wins mark in three of the last four seasons, and advanced to postseason play five times in the last nine years (not including the COVID-19 season).

Last year, the Bonnies finished with 22 wins — tied for the third-most in the Schmidt era — and earned an NIT bid. Guard Dasonte Bowen leads the Bonnies into the 2025–26 campaign after averaging 11.1 points per contest a season ago.

“Playing another strong mid-major opponent in Ohio as part of the Cleveland Hoops Showdown is a great way to cap our non-conference schedule,” said St. Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt. “They are a well-coached program that will present another challenge for our guys as we prepare toward Atlantic 10 play. Being able to return to Rocket Arena is also an outstanding opportunity for our guys to be able to play in an NBA venue, which is always a bonus for our fans as well. We’ve had some memorable moments there the past few years and look forward to returning. We’re thankful to Mark Starsiak and Intersport for their partnership in putting this event together.”

Ohio is led by Jeff Boals, a proud Ohio alum who has reinvigorated the Bobcats since taking over in 2019. Under Boals, Ohio has made multiple postseason appearances, including an NCAA Tournament victory over Virginia in 2021.

The Bobcats will return three players with starting experience from last season’s squad, including Jackson Paveltetzke, the team’s second-leading scorer (13.8 ppg), who started all 32 games a year ago, Aidan Hadaway (started 17 games) and Elijah Elliott (14). Hadaway was the team’s leading rebounder (5.8 rpg), and Elliott was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team in 2025.