Dover, DE – The Delaware State Men's Basketball team has announced its schedule for the 2025–26 season, which will feature 12 home games in Memorial Hall.
Coach Stan Waterman and the Hornets are coming off a 16–14 overall record (8–6 MEAC).
Despite a first-round loss to North Carolina Central in the 2024–25 MEAC Tournament, the Hornets look to bounce back with new talent, filled with energy and eager to make noise in the conference.
"The 2025–26 Delaware State Hornets men's basketball team is approaching the start of the season with great optimism. We believe that we have assembled a group that will compete for a MEAC championship. We've added nine new players to the roster. Building chemistry, trust, and cohesion will be very important to our success," said Coach Waterman.
An offseason full of preparation and team bonding has served as the catalyst for change in the Hornets program.
Delaware State will open November on the road at Temple (Nov. 5 in Philadelphia, Pa.), followed by a trip to Syracuse, N.Y., to take on Syracuse University (Nov. 8).
The Hornets will then continue their road stretch against Niagara University (Nov. 10 in Lewiston, N.Y.).
The team's season home opener will be a battle against Cheyney University on Nov. 18, followed by a back-to-back home matchup against Kean University (Nov. 20) before traveling south to Miami, Fla., to take on the Hurricanes (University of Miami) on Nov. 23.
Coach Waterman and the Hornets will also compete in the MEAC vs. CIAA Classic against Virginia State on Nov. 26 in Washington, D.C.
With a list of tenacious and fierce competitors, Coach Stan believes this schedule will prepare them for the upcoming MEAC tournament; exposing his players to different environments and fast-paced dynamic play-styles.
"We've put together a very challenging non-conference slate that we hope will prepare us for the competition in the MEAC Conference. We've taken steps over the summer and preseason that we believe will go a long way towards accomplishing our goal of winning the conference and advancing to the NCAA tournament," said Coach Waterman.
The Hornets will open MEAC play at home in Memorial Hall against Coppin State (Jan. 3), followed by home games against Norfolk State University (Jan. 10), Morgan State University (Jan. 17), North Carolina Central University (Feb. 28), South Carolina State University (Mar.2).
2025-26 Delaware State Men's Basketball Schedule (Home games in Bold)
NOVEMBER
Sat. 1 – Delaware Valley Univ. DIII (Exhibition)
Wed. 5 – Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)
Sat. 8 – Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY)
Mon. 10 – Niagara University (Lewiston, NY)
Sat. 15 – University of New Haven (West Haven, CT)
Tues. 18 – Cheyney University
Thurs. 20 – Kean University
Sun. 23 – University of Miami (Miami, FL)
Wed. 26 – MEAC vs. CIAA (Virginia State, Washington, DC)
Sat. 29 – UMBC (Baltimore, MD)
DECEMBER
Wed. 3 – Navy
Sat. 6 – University of Delaware
Sat. 13 – Longwood University (Farmville, VA)
Thurs. 18 – St. Joseph's University (Philadelphia, PA)
Sun. 21 – Holy Family University
Mon. 29 – Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ)
JANUARY
Sat. 3 – Coppin State
Sat. 10 – Norfolk State
Mon. 12 – Howard University (Washington, DC)
Sat. 17 – Morgan State
Sat. 24 – North Carolina Central (Durham, NC)
Mon. 26 – South Carolina State (Orangeburg, SC)
Sat. 31 – UMES
FEBRUARY
Sat. 7 – Coppin State (Baltimore, MD)
Sat. 14 – Norfolk State (Norfolk, VA)
Mon. 16 – Howard University
Sat. 21 – Morgan State (Baltimore, MD)
Sat. 28 – North Carolina Central
MARCH
Mon. 2 – South Carolina State
Thurs. 5 – UMES (Princess Anne, MD)
Tues.–Sat. 11–14 – 2025 MEAC Tournament (Norfolk, VA)
