UMBC

--UMBC Head Men’s Basketball Coach Randy Monroe has announced the 2008 non-conference portion of the Retrievers’ 2008-09 schedule. The slate features five home games, including a date vs. 2008 NCAA participant American (Dec. 20) and a renewal of the local rivalry between UMBC and Towson (Dec. 3). 

The defending America East Conference champions will compete as a road team in the 2009 ESPNU BracketBusters event. The pairings for BracketBusters will be announced on Monday, February 2, 2009.  The Retrievers will also compete in their first in-season tournament since winning the final Battle of Baltimore Tournament in the 2003-04 season as they take part in Columbia University’s Tyler Ugolyn Tournament on Nov. 21-22.

UMBC will open the campaign on Sat., Nov. 15 at the RAC Arena as they host Stevenson (Md.) University. Pre-game activities will include the unveiling of the 2007-08 championship banner. Sandwiched around UMBC’s visit to New York, N.Y., will be road contests at Morgan State (Nov. 17) and George Washington (Nov. 26) before the Retrievers conclude November by hosting MAC member Toledo in the first meeting between the two universities.

The game against Toledo kicks off a three-game homestand as UMBC entertains Towson on Dec. 3 and long-time nemesis Central Connecticut State on Dec. 10. It will be the 50^th meeting between the Retrievers and Tigers, but the first after a two-year hiatus. After a visit to 2008 Big East champion Pittsburgh on Dec. 13, UMBC returns to the RAC to face American on Dec. 20. Both the Retrievers and Eagles made their first NCAA Division I Championship appearances last season. UMBC finishes the 2008 portion of the slate with trips to Nebraska (Dec. 23) and Saint Louis (Dec. 30).

“I’m very excited about the 2008 non-conference schedule,” Coach Monroe said. “It promises to be an exciting, yet challenging one that will prepare us for the very competitive America East Conference.”

UMBC’s America East Conference schedule will be released at a later date.