MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee men's basketball team announced its non-conference schedule today, featuring five home games, road contests at the likes of Boston College and Cincinnati and a full slate of games in the Belfast Classic against quality opponents.
 
Overall, the Panthers will battle three different teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament and four teams that made the postseason last year.
 
Link to Schedule Page
 
Game times and television broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

"We have a very challenging non-conference schedule that will prepare us for the rigors of Horizon League play," Milwaukee head coach Pat Baldwin said. "We will have the opportunity to face different styles of basketball and compete against quality opponents from all over the country.  Playing against Power 5 conference opponents and NCAA tournament-quality teams will gauge our level of toughness and what it takes to win at this level."
 
Beginning with an exhibition against Concordia Wisconsin October 31 at the Klotsche Center, the Panthers kick off the 2018-19 campaign at home.
 
The regular season opener will be November 6, with Milwaukee kicking off the campaign with its first-ever trip to play Power 5 opponent Boston College on the road. It's just the second time the two teams have ever squared off, going back an MKE win over the Eagles in the 2005 NCAA Tournament on its way to the Sweet 16. A year ago, BC won 19 games and played in the NIT.
 
A new tradition awaits for the home opener, with the Panthers welcoming North Dakota at UWM Panther Arena for a "Homecoming" contest November 10. More details on that event will be announced soon on the MKE website.
 
The next road trip will be a test, opening a two-game stretch away from Wisconsin with a matchup at Florida International November 13. Following that, it's on to try and conquer Cincinnati November 16, a team that went 31-5 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after earning a No. 2 seed.
 
Milwaukee and the Bearcats have played just once (back in 1999). Cincinnati is coming off a season in which they recorded back-to-back 30-win campaigns for the first time in school history, rising to as high as No. 6 in the national polls.
 
MKE gets a pair of home games as part of the Belfast Classic, with two quality opponents making their way downtown. Up first is a clash with an LIU Brooklyn team that played in the NCAA Tournament last season. That game takes place November 20.
 
Three days later, the Panthers host Albany, a squad coming off a 22-10 campaign a year ago.
 
The trip to Northern Ireland for the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic follows. Milwaukee will have its hands full taking on Buffalo in the opening round November 30, a team that went 27-9 last year and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bulls set a school record with those 27 wins.
 
A matchup with either Stephen F. Austin or San Francisco also awaits in Ireland.
 
Milwaukee will return to the states for a home game against Drake December 6, with an in-season home-and-home series with North Dakota wrapping up in Grand Forks December 9.
 
Two of the final three games of the non-conference slate will be road contests, with trips to UMKC December 13 and Western Michigan December 22 wrapping around a home game against Wisconsin Lutheran at the Klotsche Center December 16.
 
Season tickets for the 2018-19 season went on sale Wednesday, August 15^th. Fans can purchase tickets online at www.MKEPanthers.com/tickets or by calling (414) 229-5886 starting on that date.

Don't miss a second of the exciting action at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena as the Panthers look to battle for a spot atop the Horizon League standings.

Season tickets start for as little as $130.
 
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