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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's basketball team announced their 1999-2000 schedule following some changes by the Mid-American Conference offices.

The MAC and new commissioner Rick Chryst revised the schedule in an effort to implement more regional matchups with divisional foes in the MAC's East and West divisions. UB is in the MAC East division and will face all other East members twice and play each team in the West division once.

The highlight of the home schedule will be a visit from the North Carolina Tar Heels on Dec. 7. UNC, a winner of three NCAA National Championships, will make their first appearance at UB's Alumni Arena.

The Bulls will face another tradition-rich program when they travel to play at the Indiana University Classic on Dec. 10. UB will face the Indiana Hoosiers in the first round and either North Texas or Indiana State in the second round.

The 1999-2000 schedule includes 13 games in UB's Alumni Arena, the most home games since head coach Tim Cohane took over the program in the 1993-94 season. The Bulls open with home games against local rivals Niagara on Nov. 19, and Cornell on Nov. 21. The Bulls also host Manhattan College, a team the Bulls defeated in double overtime last season, on Nov. 30. Another traditional battle for UB will be at Canisius College on Nov. 27.

In addition to these tough non-conference games, the Bulls enter their second season in the Mid-American Conference. MAC teams that will visit UB's Alumni Arena this year include Northern Illinois (Dec. 18), Bowling Green (Jan. 8), Central Michigan (Jan. 12), Akron (Jan. 24), Western Michigan (Jan. 26), Kent (Feb. 12), Marshall (Feb. 19), Ohio (Feb. 23) and Miami (Feb. 26).

The Bulls will play five of their first six games in the city of Buffalo before playing five of their next six games on the road. The Bulls finish the season with their last four games in Alumni Arena.

"We need to get through that first half of the schedule against some top quality teams with our heads up," said Bulls head coach Tim Cohane. "We need to play hard and make it to through some of those long stretches of road games and close out those last four games at home, in front of our fans at Alumni Arena, and finish the season strong."