TORONTO- The Ryerson Rams men's basketball team has finalized its 2012-13 non-conference schedule. Last year's OUA silver-medalists will once again take on NCAA division I opponents for the second year in a row as a part of their pre-season preparations, and will also travel to the Maritimes for an exhibition tournament at the University of Prince Edward Island.

2012-13 Men's Basketball Schedule

The Rams are looking to build on a breakout season that saw Ryerson qualify for the CIS Final 8 for the first time since 1998-99 while also winning their first-ever game at a national championship. Led by two-time first-team OUA all-star Jahmal Jones (Mississauga), sharp-shooter Jordon Gauthier (Windsor, Ont.) and Ryerson's Male Rookie of the Year and OUA all-rookie Aaron Best (Scarborough, Ont.), the men will boast a strong core that is complimented by another solid recruiting class (recruiting release).

"I'm excited that once again we are providing our team with a great non-conference schedule in preparation for our 2012-13 CIS campaign," said Head Coach Roy Rana. "We will have a great opportunity to test ourselves against some of the best teams in the AUS and RSEQ conferences through our trips to P.E.I., hosting opponents here in October and in December at our RUNIT Tournament."

The men will open their 2012-13 schedule against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Thursday, August 16 in Toronto, and are also hosting Wake Forest on Saturday, October 20. They conclude the pre-season with road games in the United States against Detroit Mercy on October 27 and Dayton on November 4.

"We will once again have some special NCAA experiences playing Tulsa and Wake Forest at home as well as traveling for road games at Detroit and Dayton," said Rana. "Our guys will be challenged with one of the more competitive exhibition schedules in the CIS."

The regular season home opener will serve as a re-match of the OUA semifinals last March where Ryerson upset the Lakehead Thunderwolves, who were ranked No. 2 in the CIS at the time, to book a spot in Halifax. The teams will open the conference schedule on Friday, November 9.

The men will also look to defend their tournament victory last season when they host the annual Ryerson University National Invitational Tournament (RUNIT), taking place from December 28-30.  Other notable match-ups include the Rams hosting the defending OUA and CIS champion Carleton Ravens on Saturday, January 12, as well as a home-and-home weekend against the downtown rival Toronto Varsity Blues to wrap up the season on February 15 and 16.