The Saint Francis men’s basketball team released its 2016-17 schedule Wednesday, and several attractive matchups fill the calendar. The Red Flash opens the season Nov. 12 at St. Bonaventure, and it will also travel to Duquesne, Marquette and Texas A&M in non-conference play.

The Flash faces a stiff test in its season opener against the Bonnies. St. Bonaventure was widely considered the biggest snub in the NCAA Tournament field last year as it finished with a 22-8 record after a loss in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Bonnies did earn a bid to the NIT before losing to Wagner in the opening round.

“Coach Schmidt has done an excellent job at Saint Bonaventure,” Saint Francis head coach Rob Krimmel said. “This is a great opportunity for us to compete against one of the best teams in the Atlantic 10 while being able to play a game with an institution that shares many of the same values as Saint Francis University.”

Saint Francis renews its rivalry with Duquesne in the team’s second game of the year on Nov. 16 in Pittsburgh. The Red Flash won at Palumbo Center in 2014, its first win at Duquesne since 1966. Last season, the Dukes edged the Red Flash, 67-65, at the Cambria County War Memorial.

The Red Flash has four non-conference home games in 2016-17. After hosting Div. III Chatham on Nov. 19, SFU hosts Longwood on Thanksgiving Eve. The Lancers advanced to the Big South Tournament quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded High Point.

After a pair of away games, SFU returns home to face Binghamton on Dec. 3. The teams met for the first time ever last year, a 67-61 road win for the Red Flash. SFU also hosts Stony Brook at DeGol Arena on Dec. 17. The Seawolves, winners of the America East Tournament, lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as No. 13 seed to Kentucky.

“We are always trying to add some new opponents to our non-conference schedule,” Krimmel said. “I have know Coach Boals for a long time and I know that he and his staff are going to continue the excellence that Stony Brook has enjoyed in recent years.”

SFU closes its non-conference schedule with a pair of road games, traveling to Marquette on Dec. 19 and Texas A&M on Dec. 21. Saint Francis’ game at Marquette marks the first meeting between the two schools in 60 years to the day. SFU went to Marquette and won, 79-72, on Dec. 19, 1956. That was the second meeting between the schools. The first came in the 1952 National Catholic Invitational Tournament finals in Troy, N.Y. After wins over Loyola (Md.), Saint Joseph’s and Siena to reach the championship game, Saint Francis fell to Marquette, 76-64.

“Marquette, like Saint Francis, has a great tradition in basketball,” Krimmel said. “They are celebrating their 100th year of basketball this year and we are excited to be a part of their celebration.”

The meeting with Texas A&M is the first for SFU. The Aggies are coming off a Sweet 16 appearance after one of the most improbable comeback wins in tournament history in the second round. They came back from down by 12 points with 44 seconds left to defeat Northern Iowa in overtime. In the Sweet 16, Texas A&M lost to Oklahoma, 77-63.

“For our guys that live a long way from Saint Francis, we plan at least one trip back closer to home during their four years in Loretto,” Krimmel said. “Being able to get a game in Texas was a priority for us so we could allow Josh Nebo (Houston, Texas/Cypress Lakes) to play a game closer to home so his family and friends could see him play.”

Saint Francis opens Northeast Conference play on the road for just the second time in the last six seasons when it travels to defending NEC champion Fairleigh Dickinson on Dec. 29. The game is a rematch of last season’s thrilling NEC Tournament quarterfinal game that ended in a 74-72 victory for the Knights. SFU plays at Sacred Heart on New Year’s Eve before returning home for its first NEC home weekend against St. Francis Brooklyn on Jan. 5 and LIU Brooklyn on Jan. 7. Each of LIU Brooklyn’s previous two visits to Loretto went to overtime, both won by the Blackbirds.

The Red Flash travels to its closest geographic rivals the following weekend, playing at Robert Morris on Jan. 12 and Mount St. Mary’s on Jan. 14. Last year, Saint Francis earned its first season sweep of the Colonials since the 2000-01 season and its first win at Robert Morris since 2007-08. Robert Morris plays in Loretto on Jan. 28, and Mount St. Mary’s returns on Feb. 11.

Saint Francis closes the regular season at home against Sacred Heart on Feb. 23 and Fairleigh Dickinson for Senior Day on Feb. 25.

“As has been the case the last few years, the Northeast Conference portion of our schedule will be very competitive,” Krimmel said. “We open up on the road right after Christmas break so we need to be ready right from the start to gain some momentum going into January and February.”