Syracuse, N.Y, — Syracuse’s men’s basketball team will travel to Buffalo on October 25 to play an exhibition game against the University of Buffalo.

WIVB.com’s Jonah Bronstein, citing unnamed sources, first reported the matchup at the Buffalo Key Bank Center. Syracuse assistant coach Peter Corasaniti, who handles the Orange scheduling, confirmed the game in a phone conversation.

An NCAA rule change last January allows Division I teams to play up to two exhibition games against other Division I opponents. That prompted talks about a Syracuse and Buffalo possibility, Corasaniti said.

“It’s a unique opportunity,” he said.

The game will allow Syracuse basketball fans from Western New York easier access to see SU play in person. Syracuse traveled to Rochester in 2022 and 2023 to stage intrasquad scrimmages with its men’s and women’s teams. This game offers the same kind of exposure in Buffalo.

SU will play one more exhibition game in the JMA Wireless Dome, Corasaniti said. Pace will be the opponent. SU’s complete non-conference schedule should be available next week.

“A lot of teams right now are playing one Division I and then maybe a closed scrimmage or are still doing that Division II game,” Corasaniti said. “So we’re still going to do a Division II game at home.”

Corasaniti, too, said the SU staff was aware that NCAA Tournament games will be held in the Buffalo Key Bank Center in 2026.

Syracuse’s goal, he said, is to make the NCAA Tournament. Getting an early look at that arena might prove valuable.

“In the future, I’d love to bring one of those (DI exhibition) games to the Dome or do something else on the road,” he said. “There’s an opportunity to do that now and easy for us to get to Buffalo and hit a new fan base.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.