Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (10/11/2024) – A month removed from their first competition, Gwynedd Mercy University Head Men's Basketball Coach John Baron is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 schedule. "We tip-off the season with our Purplestride game versus Rosemont College, which is a charity that is very close to our family. From there, we will play an exhibition against Delaware State University and take on Arcadia University in the Battle of 309." Coach Baron continued "There are plenty challenges throughout the season and we look forward putting our talent to the test. The AEC is a highly-competitive conference and we want to be at our best when the time comes."
 
Gwynedd Mercy University (17-10, 9-3) earned the #2 seed in the 2023-2024 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's Basketball Championship Tournament with a 9-3 league record that included a January-27 win at Neumann University (W, 87-79) and AEC season sweeps of Marywood University (W, 99-77 on Jan. 24/W, 91-74 on Feb. 14), Immaculata University (W, 74-58 on Jan. 20/W, 90-64 on Feb. 7), Cabrini University (W, 96-75 on Jan. 6/W, 75-64 on Feb. 3), and Centenary University (NJ) (W, 97-80 on Jan. 10)/W, 92-65 on Jan. 31). The Griffins finished 17-10 overall after an 86-76, AEC Semifinal win over #3 Marywood University and a postseason exit versus eventual AEC Champion, #1 Marymount University (L, 72-83 on Feb. 24). In all, four Griffins surpassed 1,000 career points and two garnered All-AEC accolades in senior guards Aziz Parker (Westampton, N.J.) (1^st Team) and JoHaan Vinson (Philadelphia, Pa.) (2^nd Team).
 
The 2024-2025 Gwynedd Mercy University men's basketball season begins on Saturday, November 9 (5:00 p.m.), when the Griffins host Rosemont College for the Purple Stride Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Classic. During the home opener, the Griffins will be raising money for PurpleStride Philadelphia in the memory of Jaylen and J.P. Baron's mother, Jane S. Baron; 100% of proceeds will be donated to the cause. The Red and Gold defeated the Ravens by an 83-60 margin last season as a solid night of shooting (.542 FG%, .391 3PT%) landed the three Griffins in double figures (Parker 17, Vinson 15, Stewart 13). Rosemont College went on to finish 6-19 overall and 5-11 in the United East.

Following the opener, Gwynedd Mercy University travels to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I affiliate Delaware State University for a 7:00 p.m. exhibition on November 12. The Hornets were 15-19 overall and 6-9 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) as the #6 seed defeated #3 South Carolina State University (W, 71-58 on Mar. 14) and #2 North Carolina Central University (W, 71-58 on Mar. 15) before exiting the postseason tournament in a 70-67 championship loss to #4 Howard University (Mar. 16). Last season, they met the Griffins in a December-5 exhibition that saw the Hornets prevail by a 105-58 measure.
 
The Battle of 309 is schedule for Wednesday, November 13, as the Red and Gold welcome the Knights to the Griffin Complex for an 8:00 p.m. tip-off. In the 2023-2024 edition, Arcadia University emerged from a 34-34 halftime stalemate for a 10-point edge, 48-38 (16:27), early in the second half. Their lead fluctuated but always remained as the Griffins cut the deficit to as few as three points (51-48, 13:40) and trailed by as many as 15 points (72-57, 4:41) in an eventual 80-74 conclusion. The Gwynedd Mercy University bench came up big with three double-digit scorers (Stewart 15, Vinson 15, Benson 12) in a 52-point effort. The 2023-2024 Knights finished 17-9 overall and 10-4 in league play before serving as the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Runner-up (L, 70-73 vs. #2 Stevens Institute of Technology on Feb. 21).
 
November continues with an away contest at Delaware Valley University (Nov. 19, 7:00 p.m.) and a three-game homestand versus Penn State Brandywine (Nov. 23, 1:00 p.m.), Juniata College (Nov. 26, 7:00 p.m.), Mount Aloysius College (Nov. 30, 1:00 p.m.). The Aggies escaped the Griffin Complex with a 76-68 (Nov. 21) win over the Griffins and finished the 2023-2024 season with an 8-17 overall record and a 2-12 mark in the MAC Freedom. Meanwhile, the Brandywine Nittany Lions were treated to a 94-62 (Dec. 21) loss thanks to Griffin season-highs in three-pointers made (14-of-29, .483 3PT) and blocks (8). They finished the season 8-17 overall and 8-11 in the United East. 2024-2025 will mark the first-ever meeting between Gwynedd Mercy University and Mount Aloysius; the Mounties were 9-16 overall and 7-11 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University continues their schedule with December away contests at Alvernia University (Dec. 4, 7:00 p.m.), Penn State Abington (Dec. 6, 7:00 p.m.), and Saint Elizabeth University (Dec. 17, 6:00 p.m.), and home dates opposite Cairn University (Dec. 9, 7:00 p.m.) and Lebanon Valley College (Dec. 14, 1:00 p.m.).
 
The Griffins lost to the Wolves by a 100-87 (Dec. 9) margin last season; Alvernia University went on to an 18-11 overall record and an 8-6 finish in the MAC Commonwealth. Contrastingly, the Abington Nittany Lions were 8-17 overall and 1-11 in the United East; they lost to the Griffins in their 2023-2024 season opener by an 82-63 (Nov. 8) final. Saint Elizabeth University fell to Gwynedd Mercy University by a 73-69 final before serving as the United East's runner-up to #1 Penn State Harrisburg (L, 61-84 on Feb. 24). The Eagles were 18-11 overall and 12-4 in conference play last season.
 
As for December's home opponents, the Red and Gold defeated the Highlanders by a 91-82 (Dec. 11) margin during their 2023-2024 campaign. Cairn University finished the season 14-12 overall and 8-8 in the United East. The Dutchmen completed their 2023-2024 schedule with an 8-17 overall mark and a 6-8 record in the MAC Freedom. They topped the Griffins in a 73-58 (Dec. 16) final last season. Gwynedd Mercy University opens the New Year on Monday, January 6 (7:00 p.m.), with a home contest versus the University of Valley Forge. Soon after, the AEC schedule begins as the Griffins breakup January dates with Marywood University (Jan. 8, 7:00 p.m.), Immaculata University (Jan. 11, 3:00 p.m.), Marymount University (Jan. 15, 6:00 p.m.), Centenary University (N.J.) (Jan. 22, 8:00 p.m.), Neumann University (Jan. 25, 3:00 p.m.), and Pratt Institute of Technology (Jan. 28, 7:00 p.m.) with a January-18 (3:00 p.m.) contest at Salisbury University.
 
In the 2023-2024 meeting, the Griffins dismissed the Patriots by a 64-50 (Dec. 10) final. The programs last met in 2004, when the Red and Gold topped the University of Valley Forge by a 64-50 (Dec. 10) spread. The Patriots were 5-20 overall and 5-11 as a member of the United East last season. Meanwhile, Salisbury University was 14-13 overall with a Coast-to-Coast Conference Tournament First Round win over #6 Warren Wilson College (W, 89-67 on Feb. 22). They lost to the Griffins by a 72-57 (Nov. 29) final last season.
 
February offers revenge contests with the Griffins' AEC rivals; opposite their January meetings, these dates will send Gwynedd Mercy University to the Mighty Macs (Feb. 8, TBA) and Saints (Feb. 12, 7:00 p.m.), while making the Red and Gold hosts for games with the Cannoneers (Feb. 1, 3:00 p.m.), Pacers (Feb. 5, 6:00 p.m.), Cyclones (Feb. 18, 6:00 p.m.), and Knights (Feb. 21, 8:00 p.m.). The February-21 home finale versus Neumann University will serve as Senior Night for the Griffins, who also welcome back their alumni for a special pregame recognition.
 
On February 24, #2 Gwynedd Mercy University visited #1 Marymount University for the 2023-2024 AEC Men's Basketball Championships. The Griffins held a narrow 15-11 (9:08) advantage midway through the first half, but the Saints tied the contest 15-15 (7:36) before edging out a 37-35 (0:05) halftime lead. After intermission, the Red and Gold found a six-point perch, 60-54 (10:12) on one of five (5-of-10, .500) Parker three pointers, but finished as the AEC Runner-Up in an 83-72 conclusion. Gwynedd Mercy University's top scorer ended up totaling a career-high 30 points as he paired his long range success with a few two-point buckets (8-of-17, .470) and nine free throws (9-of-12, .750). The Griffins totaled nine steals on defense and held Marymount University to a 44.1% (26-of-59) shooting percentage.
 
The 2024-2025 AEC Men's Basketball Championship is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, with semifinals and first-round contests respectively scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, and Monday, February 24.