Northwest Wayne News

Wayne State University men's basketball team has released its schedule for the 2025-26 season. Head coach Bryan Smothers, now in his fourth year, outlined a lineup that includes 20 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) games and five home non-conference matchups. The Warriors will also travel to face Findlay and Tiffin as part of their non-league schedule.

"This year's schedule starts off with us having a home exhibition game vs. Talladega University," said Smothers. "That game is a part of the Hoops and Culture event we are hosting at the Wayne State Fieldhouse on October 30th. This will be the first time we have had an home exhibition game open to the public since I have been head coach.

"We also have five of our seven non-conference games at home, which is important so that our fans and supporters get many opportunities to support our program. We look forward to having our fans come out and help us make the Fieldhouse a difficult place for our opponents.

"Conference play will be slightly different this year as some of the travel partners have changed from years past. For example, starting the new year at SVSU then traveling up to LSSU is a different arrangement than we are used to. Before, SVSU was a standalone game and the LSSU trip was a part of our road trip to Ferris State. Some of the logistics have changed but the goals are the same, win as many as you can on the road, and protect your home court in order to be in position for a regular-season championship and seedings. Our February home slate will also be a key to the overall success of the season."

The Wayne State Fieldhouse will serve as host for four exhibition games on October 30 as part of the Hoops and Culture event, with further details about this event expected soon.

The Warriors' regular season opens at home against Michigan Dearborn on November 14, followed by another home contest against Ashland on November 16. Additional pre-Thanksgiving action includes hosting Northwood on November 22 before traveling to play Findlay on November 25.

In December, Wayne State begins GLIAC play with an away game at Purdue Northwest on December 2 and hosts Ferris State on December 6. The team wraps up its non-conference schedule with three games: at Tiffin (December 10), then hosting Lewis (December 13) and Redeemer (December 20).

Conference competition resumes in January with road games at Saginaw Valley State (January 1) and Lake Superior State (January 3). After trips to Grand Valley State and Davenport (January 8-10), Wayne State returns home for contests against Parkside and Roosevelt (January 15-17). A visit to Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan follows later in January before more split weekends featuring both home and away games.

February brings six out of eight regular-season games back to Wayne State's Fieldhouse, starting with Davenport and Grand Valley State (February 5-7), followed by Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech (February 12-14). The final stretch includes away matches at Roosevelt (February 19) and Parkside (February 21), concluding with two home games against Lake Superior State (February 26) and Saginaw Valley State (February 28).

The GLIAC tournament quarterfinals are scheduled for March 4, with semifinals and finals set for March 7-8.

Season tickets for Wayne State's upcoming basketball season can be purchased online. Alumni or faculty/staff members interested in discounted tickets may contact ticket manager Kyle Lewis via email.