ORANGEBURG, S.C. — The South Carolina State men's basketball team will give Bulldog fans their first look at the 2026-27 squad Friday, Oct. 30, when the Bulldogs host Allen University in an exhibition contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The matchup will provide an early opportunity for head coach Erik Martin and his staff to evaluate the Bulldogs as they prepare for the upcoming season and another competitive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) campaign.

SC State enters the new season looking to build on a 2025-26 campaign in which the Bulldogs finished 10-22 overall and 7-7 in MEAC play. The Bulldogs showed improvement during conference competition, earning several key victories and advancing to the semifinals of the MEAC Basketball Tournament.

The Bulldogs closed last season with an impressive 88-82 victory over Norfolk State in the MEAC Tournament quarterfinals before falling to Howard, 78-61, in the semifinals.

During conference play, SC State averaged 68.9 points per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and 34.8% from 3-point range. The Bulldogs also averaged 13.1 assists and 4.5 blocked shots per contest.

Friday's exhibition against Allen will allow Martin and the Bulldogs to focus on team chemistry, defensive intensity, ball movement and execution on both ends of the floor before the games begin to count in the regular-season standings.

The contest will also serve as an opportunity to establish rotations and assess the team's progress following preseason workouts.

SC State will officially open the 2026-27 regular season Monday, Nov. 2, when the Bulldogs host Morris College.

The Bulldogs will face a challenging nonconference schedule that includes road contests against Notre Dame, the College of Charleston, The Citadel, Wichita State, West Virginia and South Carolina.

With the start of another season approaching, SC State will look to use Friday's exhibition as an important first step toward building momentum and competing for a MEAC championship.

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