2018-19 UNI men’s basketball schedule: Panthers open season vs. Bemidji State

Northern Iowa released its 2018-19 men's basketball schedule, and it's rather light on non-conference home games against Division I teams.

After a pair of exhibition games, the Panthers open the season against Division II Bemidji State on Thursday, Nov. 6. UNI welcomes its first D-I home opponent, Grand Canyon, on Dec. 19.

UNI has neutral site games against South Dakota State on Dec. 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and Iowa on Dec. 15 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, plus the three-game Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands from Nov. 16-18. The Panthers open that tournament against Penn. Eastern Kentucky or Kansas State will be their second opponent, followed by Oregon State, Old Dominion, Kennesaw State or Missouri. The non-conference schedule also features a handful of strong mid-major programs, including Texas-Arlington and Utah State on the road.

Missouri Valley Conference play starts Jan. 2 with a trip to Bradley. The Valley home opener is Jan. 5 against Southern Illinois.

Defending MVC champion and Final Four darling Loyola visits Cedar Falls on Feb. 27, the Panthers' last home game. UNI faces Loyola in Chicago on Jan. 30.

2018-19 UNI men's basketball schedule

Sunday, Oct. 28 — Wartburg (Exhibition), 1 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 1 — Upper Iowa (Exhibition), 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 6 — Bemidji State, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10 — at Texas-Arlington, 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 16 — vs. Pennsylvania (Paradise Jam), 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 17 — Paradise Jam

Sunday, Nov. 18 — Paradise Jam

Friday, Nov. 23 — at Old Dominion, TBA

Wednesday, Nov. 28 — at Utah State, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 1 — vs. South Dakota State (at Minneapolis), 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 8 — Dubuque, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 15 — vs. Iowa (at Des Moines), 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 19 — Grand Canyon, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 22 — North Dakota, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 29 — Stony Brook, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 2 — at Bradley, TBA

Saturday, Jan. 5 — Southern Illinois, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 9 — at Illinois State, TBA

Sunday, Jan. 13 — Drake, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 16 — Indiana State, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 19 — at Valparaiso, TBA

Wednesday, Jan. 23 — at Southern Illinois, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 26 — Evansville, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 30 — at Loyola, TBA

Saturday, Feb. 2 — Missouri State, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 6 — Bradley, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 9 — at Drake, TBA

Wednesday, Feb. 13 — Illinois State, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 17 — at Evansville, TBA

Wednesday, Feb. 20 — at Missouri State, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 23 — Valparaiso, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 27 — Loyola, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 2 — at Indiana State, TBA