Robert Morris' first season in Horizon League features games on back-to-back days

Robert Morris’ first basketball season in the Horizon League will have a different twist in an attempt to keep players, coaches and spectators safe from the coronavirus.

League members will play one conference opponent on back-to-back weekend days at the same location. Teams will have five weekends at home and five on the road.

Robert Morris’ first Horizon games will be Dec. 19-20 against Cleveland State at the Colonials’ on-campus UPMC Events Center. Tip times will be announced at a later date.

The 2020-21 league schedule includes home series against Milwaukee (Jan. 1-2), Northern Kentucky (Jan. 22-23), Youngstown State (Feb. 5-6) and Oakland (Feb. 12-13).

Robert Morris’ road series will be against IPFW (Dec. 26-27), IUPUI (Jan. 8-9), UIC (Jan. 15-16), Wright State (Jan. 29-30) and Detroit Mercy (Feb. 19-20).

The Colonials will launch their 45th season of NCAA Division I basketball Nov. 25 against Point Park University at the UPMC Events Center.

RMU also will be host to Florida Gulf Coast (Dec. 2) in a nonconference game before visiting Central Michigan (Nov. 28), St. Francis (Dec. 5) and West Virginia (Dec. 9).

“I know our student-athletes can’t wait to go out and compete against quality nonconference opponents in preparation for our first season in the Horizon League,” coach Andy Toole said in a statement. “It’s a challenging schedule, and I’m looking forward to watching our team develop.”

RMU plans to open the season with a limited number of spectators for its two nonconference games at the UPMC Events Center. Based on capacity limits, attendance will be limited to season-ticket holders, and no single-game tickets will be sold. The Colonials’ first game will be Nov. 25 against Point Park University.

The Robert Morris women’s team will operate in the same format, opening its Horizon League season Dec. 12-13 at Cleveland State. The nonconference schedule will be announced at a later date.