The University of California, Riverside Athletics Department released its 2018-19 Men’s Basketball team schedule, announcing an exciting non-conference slate that features five home games at the SRC Arena and a trip to the Tiger Thanksgiving Tournament.

“We are looking forward to our 2018-19 season,” first year head coach David Patrick said. “We have assembled a great group of student-athletes and coaches and this group is ready to compete in the Big West Conference this year. I am excited about the great brand of basketball we are building and the trajectory of our program.”

Coach Patrick will begin his first year at the helm on the road as the Highlanders travel to Oregon and Nevada to take on Oregon State November 6, Portland State November 10, and UNLV November 10, respectively.

The Highlanders will play on their home court for the first time in the David Patrick era on November 17 when they take on UC Merced in a Homecoming matchup, as a part of the Tiger Thanksgiving Tournament (MTE). The Highlanders bested the Bobcats at home last season 91-46.

Thanksgiving weekend brings a trip to Stockton, to continue the Tiger Thanksgiving Tournament (MTE), hosted by the University of Pacific, where the Highlanders will face Pacific, Elon, and Abilene Christian.

A late November matchup marks a first for both the Highlanders and the city of Riverside, as the team will host Cal Baptist in a battle of the crosstown Division I schools men’s basketball programs. The remainder of UCR’s non-conference home schedule includes Pepperdine December 6, Life Pacific December 19, Loyola Marymount December 22, and Bethesda January 4, 2019.

Big West Conference play begins on January 9, 2019 as the Highlanders host Cal State Northridge (CSUN), and includes home-and-home match-ups with UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, Hawaii, Cal Poly, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and Long Beach State.

The Big West Conference Tournament begins at the Honda Center in Anaheim on March 14.

The program is filled with new faces as the Highlanders welcome seven freshman and transfers, as well as a new staff that includes assistant coach Mike Magpayo and director of basketball operations Michael Lecak.