Ohio Bobcats to Face Wright State in Exhibition Game Supporting Mental Health Awareness
The Ohio Bobcats men’s basketball team will begin its 2025-26 season preparation with an exhibition game against the Wright State Raiders on Monday, October 20, at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, as part of the CareSource Invitational.
The game, scheduled to tip off around 8 p.m. ET, is one of two exhibition contests for the Bobcats before the regular season begins. This year’s CareSource Invitationals are dedicated to raising awareness and funds for adolescent and young adult mental health, centering around the message “It’s Ok to Not be Ok.” CareSource, a national nonprofit managed care organization, is supporting communities by expanding access to mental health resources. Learn more about CareSource’s mission here.
Ohio returns four key players from last season’s 16-16 team, including seniors Ajay Sheldon, Aidan Hadaway, and Jackson Paveletzke, along with sophomore Elijah Elliott. The Bobcats have also added seven newcomers, highlighted by transfers Javan Simmons (formerly of Toledo) and Dior Conners (formerly of App State). Paveletzke, a Third Team All-MAC selection last year, averaged 13.8 points per game. This exhibition series provides a valuable opportunity for teams to experiment with lineups and build chemistry before competitive play. Fans traveling to Dayton can attend a pregame event at The Fieldhouse from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wright State finished last season with a 15-18 record and returns six players from that squad. Following Monday’s game, Ohio will continue its exhibition schedule with a contest against Ohio State on October 26. More information about the Ohio Bobcats can be found on their official website.
