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A rugged Mid-American Conference schedule, two games against Atlantic 10 opponents and a battle at North Carolina in the "Deandome" highlight the 1998-99 men's basketball schedule.

The Bulls, who lost four seniors from last year's 15-13 team including the number one (Rasaun Young) and three (Mike Martinho) scorers in school history will enter the Mid-American Conference with a roster that includes nine freshmen and sophomores. They will be forced to grow up in a hurry, however, with what is the toughest schedule in school history.

The Bulls will play non-league games at Niagara (Nov. 13), Cornell (Nov. 17), Duquesne (Nov. 21) of the Atlantic 10, Manhattan (Dec. 1), Canisius (Dec. 12) and '98 Final Four participant North Carolina (Dec. 8) all before Christmas. UB will head overseas to play in the Hawaii-Hilo Tournament from Dec. 28-30 with Central Connecticut, Old Dominion and the host school for a round-robin tournament. The Bulls will play just two home games in Alumni Arena ­the home opener versus Canisius (Nov. 24) and MAC rival Akron (Dec. 5) before the Christmas holidays.

After the New Year, the Bulls play just one non-league game ­ hosting St. Bonaventure on Jan. 19 for the first time in Alumni Arena ­ before entering the teeth of the Mid-American schedule.

The Bulls will play their first MAC conference game at home on Dec. 5 when they host Akron. After the holidays come home meetings with the MAC's Bowling Green (Jan. 6), MAC tournament finalist Miami (Jan. 8), NIT participant Ball State (Jan. 21), Central Michigan (Jan. 23), NCAA participant Eastern Michigan (Feb. 3), Kent (Feb. 6), Marshall (Feb. 17) and Northern Illinois (Feb. 20).

The Bulls will also face Central Michigan (Dec. 21), Kent (Jan. 2), Marshall (Jan. 14), Ohio (Jan. 16), Northern Illinois (Jan. 28), Toledo (Feb. 11), Bowling Green (Feb. 13), Ball State (Feb. 24) and Western Michigan (Jan. 30) ­ who won a first-round game in the NCAA last year ­ on the road.

In all the Bulls will play six games against teams that participated in either the NCAA or NIT post-season tournaments last season. The Mid-American Conference Tournament will be contested Feb. 27-29 in Toledo.

"Our non-league schedule continues to get tougher and when you combine that with the strength of the MAC this is easily the most difficult schedule we've ever faced," said head Tim Cohane, entering his sixth season. "There are three or four great teams in the MAC, so the challenge is greater but so is the reward."

University at Buffalo 1998-99 Men's Basketball Schedule

November

Date Opponent Time Site

Fri., 13 at Niagara 7:30 pm Niagara Falls, NY

Tue., 17 at Cornell 7:30 pm Ithaca, NY

Sat., 21 at Duquesne 7:30 pm Pittsburgh, PA

Tues., 24 Canisius 7:30 pm Alumni Arena

December

Tues., 1 at Manhattan 7:30 pm Manhattan, NY

Sat., 5 Akron* 1:00 pm Alumni Arena

Sat., 8 at North Carolina 7:30 pm Chapel Hill, NC

Sat., 12 at Canisius 2:30 pm Marine Midland Arena

Mon., 21 at Central Michigan* 7:30 pm Mt. Pleasant, MI

Mon.-Wed., 28-30 at Hawaii-Hilo Tournament TBA Hilo, HI

(w/ Old Dominion, Central Connecticut State, Hawaii-Hilo)

January

Sat., 2 at Kent* 7:30 pm Kent, OH

Wed., 6 Bowling Green* 7:30 pm Alumni Arena

Fri., 8 Miami (OH)* 7:30 pm Alumni Arena

Thur., 14 at Marshall* 7:30 pm Huntington, WV

Sat., 16 at Ohio* 7:30 pm Athens, OH

Tue., 19 St. Bonaventure 7:30 pm Alumni Arena

Thur., 21 Ball State* 7:30 pm Alumni Arena

Sat., 23 Central Michigan* 7:30 pm Alumni Arena

Thur., 28 at Northern Illinois* 8:05 pm DeKalb, IL

Sat., 30 at Western Michigan* 7:30 pm Kalamazoo, MI

February

Wed., 3 Eastern Michigan* 7:30 pm Alumni Arena

Sat., 6 Kent* 7:30 pm Alumni Arena

Thur., 11 at Toledo* 7:30 pm Toledo, OH

Sat., 13 at Bowling Green* 7:30 pm Bowling Green, OH

Wed., 17 Marshall* 7:30 pm Alumni Arena

Sat., 20 Northern Illinois* 7:30 pm Alumni Arena

Wed., 24 at Ball State* 7:30 pm Muncie, IN

Sat.-Mon., 27-29 MAC Tournament TBA Toledo, OH

Home games in bold italics
*-Mid-American Conference games
#-all game times are tentative