Men's Hoops to tip off 2017-18 campaign at area-rival Defiance on Nov. 20

By Caleb Scott

ADA — The Ohio Northern men's basketball team will tip off its 2017-18 campaign on Nov. 20 at area-rival Defiance under the guidance of second year head coach Rich Bensman.

The Polar Bears will take on the Yellow Jackets at 7:30 pm to open the season.

From there, Northern will compete in the Mount Saint Joseph Tip-Off Classic where it will take on Washington (Mo.) on Nov. 25 and Case Western Reserve on Nov. 26.

The home portion of the schedule will begin on Nov. 29 as ONU plays host to Alma (Mich.) at the ONU Sports Center at 8 pm.

Northern will begin its double round-robin style Ohio Athletic Conference schedule in Columbus as it takes on Capital on Dec. 2.

After back-to-back home games against Wilmington on Dec. 6 and Mount Union on Dec. 9, Northern will compete at John Carroll on Dec. 16 and Denison on Dec. 19.

Northern will close out 2017 on Dec. 29 and 30 as it competes in the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn. with the opponents to be announced at a later date.

ONU will open the New Year on Jan. 3 as it travels to Otterbein to take on the Cardinals at 7 pm.

After back-to-back OAC contests at Marietta on Jan. 6 and Baldwin Wallace on Jan. 10, Northern returns home to take on Muskingum and Heidelberg on Jan. 13 and 17, respectively.

The Polar Bears will then travel to Mount Union and Wilmington on Jan. 20 and 24 before hosting Capital on Jan. 27 and Baldwin Wallace on Jan. 31.

Other OAC home contests feature John Carroll on Feb. 10 and Marietta on Feb. 17.

Northern will also compete on the road at Muskingum on Feb. 3, Heidelberg on Feb. 7 and Otterbein on Feb. 14.

ONU will celebrate Senior Day and Alumni Day as it concludes the regular season on Feb. 17 and hosts Marietta at the ONU Sports Center at 3 pm.