Trojans' nonconference schedule released

A home-and-home series with an in-state foe, four home games games and a trip to Las Vegas highlight UALR's first nonconference schedule under Coach Chris Beard, which was released Thursday.

UALR will open the season Nov. 14 against Central Baptist, an NAIA school located in Conway and host Division III Centenary on Nov. 18. The Trojans also host Central Arkansas on Dec. 1 and Northern Arizona on Dec. 20.

The Trojans play at San Diego State on Nov. 21, vs. East Carolina Nov. 26 as part of the Las Vegas Invitational, at Tulsa on Nov. 28, at Idaho on Dec. 5, at Central Arkansas on Dec. 16 and at Texas Tech on Dec. 22.

San Diego State is UALR's most accomplished opponent. The Aztecs were 27-9 last year and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual national champion Duke. Tulsa beat UALR 78-73 last year on its way to the second round of the NIT and Northern Arizona reached the final of the College Insider Tournament.

East Carolina, Idaho, DePaul, UCA and Texas Tech each had losing seasons last year.

While playing at Texas Tech, Beard will be returning to an arena with which he's plenty familiar. Beard spent 11 seasons as a Texas Tech assistant in 2001-2011, first under Bobby Knight and then his son, Pat Knight. He resigned after less than a season as an assistant there for Billy Gillispie.

UALR was 13-18 last season, but will start this season with seven new scholarship players.

See Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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