Wheeling, W. Va. – As the fall sports start rolling into their season, the Wheeling University Men's Basketball team will be making their own preparations for the 2025-2026 season. On Wednesday, the team released their 25-26 schedule, featuring 12 home contests inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center. The Cardinals will be playing at both the WVU Coliseum as well as WesBanco Arena this season as they try to chase down an MEC Title.

In 2024-2025, Head Coach Chris Richardson's squad improved their overall win total, finishing 11-18 overall, and tying their MEC record with a 6-14 mark. The 2024 season started at the West Liberty Classic with two tough games against Bluefield State and West Chester, that the Cardinals would split. After going 2-3 in their first five games, the Cardinals would pick up a win against a top 10 program in CAL-U, picking up an 89-83 win. They would pick up their first MEC win against West Virginia Wesleyan on December 7^th and went 1-4 over the first half. As they hit the end of January, the Cardinals were on the outside looking in but turned things around going on a four-game winning streak that got them in the running. They would go on to earn the #9 seed in the conference, but would end up bowing out in the First Round.

As they kick-off the 2025-2026 season, the Cardinals will get the chance to head to the Coliseum at West Virginia University for an exhibition game against the Mountaineers on October 26^th. As the regular season kicks off, the Cardinals once again tip-off the season at the West Liberty Classic, where they will open with CAL-U and follow that with Clarion the net day. They hit the road one more time against Slippery Rock before opening their home slate on November 22^nd when they host Winston Salem State University. Their conference opener also comes at home against Point Park on December 3^rd. The Cardinals will play at home a lot in the first half, with four of their six games being played on their home courts.

As the first half wraps up, the Cardinals will be heading to WesBanco Arena for a matchup with Franciscan University. They wrap up the first half at home against Davis & Elkins on December 17^th, and open up the second half on the road against West Virginia Wesleyan on January 3^rd. After being at home a lot in the first half, the Cardinals will split their home and away schedule in the second half of the season. In January, the Cardinals will play three home Wednesday games as compared to hitting the road on Saturdays. The Cardinals will host Fairmont State (Jan. 7^th), Concord (Jan. 14^th), and West Virginia State (Jan. 31^st) in conference play. They will also hit the road for some tough matchups throughout the month, with trips to both West Liberty and The University of Charleston during the month.

As the calendar flips to February, the Cardinals will begin the month at home against West Virginia Wesleyan on February 4^th, and will play a majority of their games at home during the month. The Cardinals will hit the road for their final back-to-back stretch of the season when they head to Davis & Elkins (Feb. 7^th) and Fairmont State (Feb. 11^th). The Cardinals go back and forth the rest of the year and wrap up the month with their annual "The Battle for Wheeling" on senior night. The Cardinals will welcome in the West Liberty Hilltoppers on February 28^th as they make their final push for a spot in the 2025 MEC Men's Basketball Tournament.

The Wheeling University Men's Basketball team tips off the season on Friday, November 14^th, when they head to the West Liberty Classic to take on CAL-U.