UNCW Men's Basketball Non-conference Schedule Set

WILMINGTON, N.C. – An appearance in the South Padre Island Invitational, the beginning of a four-year contract with Atlantic Coast Conference member Wake Forest and the renewal of series with regional rivals Appalachian State and Richmond highlight the non-conference portion of UNC Wilmington’s men’s basketball schedule for the upcoming 2008-09 season.

While the Colonial Athletic Association slate won’t be finalized for weeks because of television considerations, the opponents for 12 of UNCW’s 13 non-conference dates are set. The 13th foe will be an ESPN BracketBusters matchup in late February at Trask Coliseum.

“The early schedule will be very challenging for our young team,” said Benny Moss, who enters his third season with the program. “We’re excited about starting an extended series with Wake Forest and traveling to Texas for the South Padre event. Scheduling is always a difficult process, but I think it’s very fair, and it should have a tremendous appeal to our fans because of the close proximity of so many of the games.”

Overall, the 31-game slate includes 14 home games, 15 road dates and two neutral site tests. The campaign opens with a pair of home games on Nov. 14 against Appalachian State and Nov. 17 with Troy. UNCW then embarks on a five-game road journey that wraps up in south Texas during the Thanksgiving break.

The Nov. 19 matchup with the Demon Deacons marks the first year of a four-year pact. WFU will visit Trask Coliseum in 2010 and the two teams will meet at the Greensboro Coliseum in 2011. UNCW and Wake conclude the deal in 2012 at Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem.

UNCW plays a home-and-home series with Troy and the Trojans join Big XII Conference stalwart Texas A&M and Mid-American Conference power Kent State as new opponents for the Seahawks.

2008-09 UNCW Men's Basketball Schedule (Non-Conference): Nov. 14 Vs. Appalachian State, Nov. 17 Vs. Troy, Nov. 19 at Wake Forest, Nov. 23 at Kent State, Nov. 25 at Texas A&M, Nov. 28 at South Padre Island Invitational, Nov. 29 at South Padre Island Invitational, Dec. 3 Vs. East Carolina, Dec. 14 at Vermont, Dec. 19 at College of Charleston, Dec. 22 at Troy, Dec. 28 Vs. Richmond

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT