Monday, November 2
Chicago, Ill. / Gentile Arena
8:00 PM
The Citadel
at
Loyola Chicago
11/1/2026 6:05:00 PM | Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Citadel basketball team opens the 2026-27 season Monday, Nov. 2, when the Bulldogs travel to Chicago, Illinois, to face Loyola Chicago at Gentile Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT), with the contest marking the first meeting between the two programs.
The Bulldogs enter their fifth consecutive season under head coach Ed Conroy, who begins his ninth overall season leading his alma mater. The Citadel returns six players from last year's squad while welcoming 11 newcomers, including seven transfers and four freshmen.
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Previewing The Citadel
The Bulldogs enter the new campaign looking to build on an 11-22 season that included seven Southern Conference victories. The Citadel recorded five wins in January, its most during the month since 2008-09, and established a program single-season record with four overtime victories.
The season was highlighted by road victories at Chattanooga and Wofford, along with a 19-point comeback against Furman. The Bulldogs concluded the campaign with an 88-85 victory over Chattanooga in the opening round of the Southern Conference Tournament.
Senior guard Keynan Davis headlines the returning group after appearing in 32 games last season. Davis delivered a standout performance in the Southern Conference Tournament, scoring 20 points and connecting on six 3-pointers against Chattanooga, tying Zach Urbanus' program record for the most triples in a SoCon Tournament game. The Bulldogs also set a program record with 15 made 3-pointers in the 88-85 victory, the most in a single SoCon Tournament game in school history.
Sophomore Marcos Gonzales also returns after appearing in 29 games during his freshman campaign, averaging 4.4 points and recording 44 assists. Monday's season opener marks a homecoming for Davis and Gonzales, both Chicago natives. Gonzales previously starred at Brother Rice High School, earning Chicago Catholic League Lawless Player of the Year honors.
The Citadel's seven transfer additions bring experience, size and depth to the lineup. Senior guard Marcus Banks joins the Bulldogs after scoring 1,241 career points at Shepherd, while fifth-year forward Tyler Mrus arrives from BYU after averaging 9.7 points per game at Idaho during the 2024-25 season. Senior guard Eddrin Bronson and fifth-year guard Chase Cormier both bring Southern Conference experience, with Bronson appearing in 69 games at Furman and Cormier joining from Iona after previously playing at Wofford. The Bulldogs also added 6-foot-11 forward/center Joe Hurlburt from Davidson, a former two-time North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year.
The frontcourt also welcomes 6-foot-9 forward Ramel Bethea, who enters the 2026-27 season at age 30 as the oldest player in NCAA Division I men's basketball. A five-year U.S. Navy veteran who never played organized basketball in high school, Bethea developed his game during his military service, earning a spot on the All-Navy basketball team before representing the U.S. Armed Forces in international competition in Belgium. Bethea arrives from Green Bay, where he recorded 38 blocked shots and shot 74.6 percent from the field last season.
Previewing Loyola Chicago
The Ramblers enter the 2026-27 season under sixth-year head coach Drew Valentine, returning just two letterwinners from last year's roster while welcoming 14 newcomers.
Fifth-year forward Xavier Amos is Loyola's leading returning scorer after averaging 11.1 points per game last season. Sophomore guard Nic Anderson also returns after appearing in 27 games with five starts.
For the latest information on The Citadel basketball program, visit CitadelSports.com and follow @CitadelHoops on Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Bulldogs enter their fifth consecutive season under head coach Ed Conroy, who begins his ninth overall season leading his alma mater. The Citadel returns six players from last year's squad while welcoming 11 newcomers, including seven transfers and four freshmen.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
ESPN+: Click HERE.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE.
RADIO: Click HERE.
Previewing The Citadel
The Bulldogs enter the new campaign looking to build on an 11-22 season that included seven Southern Conference victories. The Citadel recorded five wins in January, its most during the month since 2008-09, and established a program single-season record with four overtime victories.
The season was highlighted by road victories at Chattanooga and Wofford, along with a 19-point comeback against Furman. The Bulldogs concluded the campaign with an 88-85 victory over Chattanooga in the opening round of the Southern Conference Tournament.
Senior guard Keynan Davis headlines the returning group after appearing in 32 games last season. Davis delivered a standout performance in the Southern Conference Tournament, scoring 20 points and connecting on six 3-pointers against Chattanooga, tying Zach Urbanus' program record for the most triples in a SoCon Tournament game. The Bulldogs also set a program record with 15 made 3-pointers in the 88-85 victory, the most in a single SoCon Tournament game in school history.
Sophomore Marcos Gonzales also returns after appearing in 29 games during his freshman campaign, averaging 4.4 points and recording 44 assists. Monday's season opener marks a homecoming for Davis and Gonzales, both Chicago natives. Gonzales previously starred at Brother Rice High School, earning Chicago Catholic League Lawless Player of the Year honors.
The Citadel's seven transfer additions bring experience, size and depth to the lineup. Senior guard Marcus Banks joins the Bulldogs after scoring 1,241 career points at Shepherd, while fifth-year forward Tyler Mrus arrives from BYU after averaging 9.7 points per game at Idaho during the 2024-25 season. Senior guard Eddrin Bronson and fifth-year guard Chase Cormier both bring Southern Conference experience, with Bronson appearing in 69 games at Furman and Cormier joining from Iona after previously playing at Wofford. The Bulldogs also added 6-foot-11 forward/center Joe Hurlburt from Davidson, a former two-time North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year.
The frontcourt also welcomes 6-foot-9 forward Ramel Bethea, who enters the 2026-27 season at age 30 as the oldest player in NCAA Division I men's basketball. A five-year U.S. Navy veteran who never played organized basketball in high school, Bethea developed his game during his military service, earning a spot on the All-Navy basketball team before representing the U.S. Armed Forces in international competition in Belgium. Bethea arrives from Green Bay, where he recorded 38 blocked shots and shot 74.6 percent from the field last season.
Previewing Loyola Chicago
The Ramblers enter the 2026-27 season under sixth-year head coach Drew Valentine, returning just two letterwinners from last year's roster while welcoming 14 newcomers.
Fifth-year forward Xavier Amos is Loyola's leading returning scorer after averaging 11.1 points per game last season. Sophomore guard Nic Anderson also returns after appearing in 27 games with five starts.
For the latest information on The Citadel basketball program, visit CitadelSports.com and follow @CitadelHoops on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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