CANTON, Ohio -- On Friday, the Malone University men's basketball team announced the regular season schedule dates for the upcoming 2021-22 campaign. 

After competing in just one non-conference game, and being forced to hold strictly to mainly Great Midwest Athletic Conference games last year, the Pioneers are gearing up for a full slate of 28 regular season games this winter.

The season tips off on Friday, November 12 at Northwood University. The Pioneers will also play at Saginaw Valley State on November 13 as part of their non-conference trip through the state of Michigan. 

The home opener is slated for Wednesday, November 17 against Wheeling University.

Malone will also host: Mount Aloysius College, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Bluefield State College, and Emory & Henry College in non-conference play this season. 

The Pioneers' defense of their 2020-21 Great Midwest Athletic Conference title will begin on Saturday, December 4 with a trip to Lake Erie College. 

Malone's first G-MAC game inside Osborne Hall will be December 9 against Trevecca Nazarene University. 

Other schedule highlights include hosting rival Walsh University on December 14, and a trip to North Canton for the 58th Annual Mayors' Cup on February 5. 

The 2021-22 Great Midwest Men's Basketball Championships will begin with the quarterfinal round on Tuesday, March 1. The semifinals will take place on March 3, and the conference championship will be contested on March 5.