MADISON, N.J. - The Drew University men's basketball team will host its version of the Larry Horner C'40 Rose City Classic this weekend in Baldwin Gym.

The Rangers will take on Saint Elizabeth University in the first round on Friday at 6 p.m. before Baruch College and Farmingdale State College face off at 8 p.m. The consolation game will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. before the championship game tips off at 4 p.m.

After a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual event that includes both a women's and men's tournament returns. While both tournaments were held on the same weekend in the past, the two are being contested over consecutive weekends this year. The women's team defended its Rose City Classic title with a 63-56 win over Misericordia University this past Saturday.

Drew's men's team has reached the Rose City final during each of the last five years the tournament has been held, and it captured the title in 2018.

TEAM CAPSULES

Baruch College Bearcats: Baruch has started the season 1-2, defeating FDU-Florham 83-59...The team's two losses have come by a total of five points...Senior G Adnan Bajrami leads the Bearcats in both scoring (17.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg) while sophomore F Emil Purisic has added 15.7 ppg...Baruch did not compete last season but finished 19-11 in the 2019-20, when Bajrami was a City University of New York Athletic Conference First-Team All-Star.

Drew University Rangers: Off to a 1-2 start...Defeated York (Pa.) 73-68 to reach the championship game of the TCNJ Tournament...Senior G Lybrant Robinson is the team's leading scorer (16.7 ppg) while junior F Howard McBurnie, Jr. has averaged 13.7 ppg and 10.0 rpg...Robinson, McBurnie, and senior G David Gervase were all First-Team All-Landmark Conference selections last year, when the Rangers finished 7-2 and captured the Landmark Conference title.

Farmingdale State College Rams: Are also off to a 1-2 start...Defeated SUNY New Paltz 68-61 in its last time out...Senior F Dominique Senat leads the Rams in scoring (17.3 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg)...Did not compete in 2020-21, but finished 14-13 in 2019-20.

Saint Elizabeth University Eagles: Have started the season 0-3...The team is led by the duo of senior F Jarek Johnson (16.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and sophomore G Nasir Owens (15.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg)...The Eagles did not compete last season but finished 12-12- in 2019-20.