The Palestra set to host 4th annual Cathedral Classic
- Adam Mack
- 13 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The 4th annual Cathedral Classic is set to tip off Friday afternoon, with games continuing through Sunday. This year's classic will feature La Salle, Hofstra, Merrimack, and the host Penn. Once again all games will be held at the Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.
Schedule
Friday November 28
La Salle vs Hofstra - 2pm
Penn vs Merrimack - 4:30pm
Saturday November 29
Hofstra vs Merrimack - 2pm
Penn vs La Salle - 4:30pm
Sunday November 30
La Salle vs Merrimack - 12pm
Penn vs Hofstra - 2:30pm
All 6 games will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Scouting Penn
The Quakers are led by 1st year Head Coach Fran McCaffery and have had immediate success. Penn is 3-2 so far this season with key wins over Drexel and Saint Joesph's. With wins over those two programs, they have clinched their spot in the Big 5 Classic Championship on December 6th. They have been led by Ethan Roberts who is entering the game ranked 3rd in the country in scoring. His 31 points against Saint Joesph's was his 2nd highest scoring game of his career.
Scouting La Salle
La Salle enters the Cathedral Classic 3-3 on the season. They are coached by former Radford Head Coach Darris Nichols. The Explorers are led by graduate student Jaeden Marshall. He is averaging 12.5 points per game and has been shooting 95% from the free throw line.
Scouting Merrimack
Merrimack currently is 2-4 on the season. Of the 4 teams in this weekend's Cathedral Classic, Merrimack has had one of the hardest non-conference schedules so far this seasoan with games against Florida and Auburn. The Warriors are led by Gannon University transfer Ernest Shelton. He leads the team with 18 points per game. The 3 point specialist hit a program record 9 3-pointers in their victory over Boston.
Scouting Hofstra
Hofstra enters this weekend with a 2-3 record. The Pride are led by Cruz Davis and Preston Edmead. Both players average over 30 minutes per game and are 1 & 2 on the team in points, assists, and steals.
Cathedral Classic History
This will be the 4th year of the tournament. Penn is the only team that has taken place in all 4 years of the Cathedral Classic. La Salle, Merrimack, and Hofstra are all making their first appearances. This marks the 4th year that this tournament is played on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania at the Palestra.
History of the Palestra
The Palestra has been known as the Cathedral of College Basketball. The 4th oldest venue in college basketball has been home to Penn basketball since 1927. At the time of its construction, the 10,000 seating capacity was one of the largest arenas in the world. The Palestra is famous for its close seating with no barrier between the fans and the court. As of 2025, the Palestra has hosted more games, more visiting teams, and more NCAA tournament games than any other arena in College Basketball.
AAT Sports will be at the Palestra on Saturday for day 2 of the Cathedral Classic. Be sure to check out AAT Sports and Adam Mack for coverage of this Thanksgiving weekend tournament.
-Adam Mack (@AdamMack8727)
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