ARLINGTON – Arguably the most competitive non-conference schedule in the history of the UT Arlington men's basketball program has been unveiled as the Mavericks embark on their first season under the leadership of head coach Greg Young in 2021-22.
 
The 12-game non-league docket features an incredible eight opponents which competed in the NCAA Tournament last season, and five of those won at least one game in March Madness.
 
Diving further into the strength of the slate, UTA will play 10 Division-I opponents – meaning that 80 percent of its D-I non-conference contests are against NCAA Tournament foes from 2021. All told, those eight teams won six games in March Madness.
 
Five opponents won their respective conference tournament championship last year, while two others were league tournament finalists. Additionally, five teams won at least 20 games – an impressive accomplishment considering the shortened COVID season.
 
"We are extremely excited about our non-conference schedule this upcoming season," stated Young. "As has been the case most seasons during my 12-year tenure here, our non-league schedule is extremely challenging. This part of our schedule will prepare us for the always-competitive Sun Belt Conference schedule beginning in late December."
 
The unofficial start to the season commences with an exhibition open to the general public on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. against Division III Southeastern Oklahoma State inside the College Park Center.
 
NOV. 9 @ OKLAHOMA STATE
It will mark the second-straight year the two teams open each other's respective season as UTA battled the Cowboys to a tough 75-68 contest last November at the College Park Center against eventual No. 1 NBA Draft pick Cade Cunningham. OSU knocked off Liberty in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Elite Eight participant Oregon State in the Second Round.
 
NOV. 13 vs. MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR
The Homecoming doubleheader will feature the first-ever matchup with Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Belton, Texas, school went 16-4 last year as a Division-III member.
 
NOV. 16 vs. ABILENE CHRISTIAN
One of last March's biggest upsets came when Abilene Christian took down Texas in the NCAA Tournament First Round, 53-52. The Wildcats finished the year with 24 wins – their third-straight 20+ win campaign. UTA and ACU will be meeting for the first time since 1994.
 
NOV. 18 @ NORTH TEXAS
A second-straight in-state program which won an NCAA Tournament game last year awaits UTA when it heads to Denton. UNT defeated Purdue in overtime, 78-69, for its first-ever tournament win in 2021. It will mark the 57th all-time meeting between UTA and UNT.
 
NOV. 20 @ SAN DIEGO STATE
An extremely challenging stretch of facing three NCAA Tournament teams in five days in three different venues concludes in California. The defending Mountain West Conference Champions, San Diego State received a #6 seed in the NCAA Tournament before finishing the year with a 23-5 record. It will be the first meeting with the Aztecs.
 
NOV. 27 @ UTAH STATE
Another Mountain West foe on the road awaits the Mavs after Thanksgiving as they head to Logan to face Utah State. The Aggies fell to San Diego State in the MW Championship, but still garnered an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament where they battled Texas Tech to a 12-point game. UTA defeated Utah State all three times the two sides played during the Mavs' lone year in the Western Athletic Conference in 2012-13; the only other meeting in series history was a Utah State win, 73-69, in Logan as part of the 2011 Athletes in Action Classic.
 
NOV. 29 @ UC SANTA BARBARA
Another challenge awaits the Mavs as they return to California for the second time in nine days to face UCSB. The defending Big West Conference Champions won 22 games last season and had a shot at the end of their NCAA Tournament game against Creighton to win, but ultimately fell one point short, 63-62. The Gauchos and Mavs have met twice previously: 1970 in Santa Barbara and 2019 in Arlington.
 
DEC. 7 vs. NEVADA
UTA returns home to face a third Mountain West member in Nevada. The Wolfpack went 16-10 last year, won 19 games in 2019-20 and in 2018-19 posted an impressive 29-5 mark to garner an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. UTA and Nevada have played once before – an 80-73 Wolfpack win in Reno on Nov. 12, 2019.
 
DEC. 11 vs. LAMAR
An in-state matchup is on tap for the Mavs when they face former longtime Southland Conference partner Lamar. UTA and Lamar met at least once every single year from 1961-86 and again from 1999-2012 before the Mavs departed the league. It will mark the 76th all-time meeting between the two schools. UTA has only played Texas State (76) and McNeese (79) more times than Lamar.
 
DEC. 16 @ ORAL ROBERTS
The Cinderella from last year's NCAA Tournament is next up for the Mavs as they face Oral Roberts. ORU became just the second team in NCAA history to reach the Sweet Sixteen as a #15 seed after taking down Ohio State and Florida before falling two points shy to Arkansas of reaching the Elite Eight. The catalyst of that team, Max Abmas, withdrew from the NBA Draft and is back for ORU. He led the nation in scoring last year at 24.5 per game as a sophomore. After playing four times in the 1980s, this will mark just the fourth meeting since between UTA and ORU.
 
DEC. 19 @ OKLAHOMA
UTA remains in the Sooner State to take on the Sooners three days later. Oklahoma received an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament and emerged victorious over Missouri before falling to National Finalist Gonzaga in the Second Round. OU is led by former Loyola Chicago head coach Porter Moser. It will be the eighth meeting in series history.
 
DEC. 22 vs. HOWARD PAYNE
UTA will close out its non-conference slate for the second-straight year by facing Howard Payne. Last season, the Mavs raced to a 117-53 victory. Greg Young was a four-year men's basketball letterwinner at Howard Payne, graduating with a degree in physical education in 1986. He was the team captain as a senior, and received the distinguished Paul J. Cunningham Award for excellence and dedication that same year.
 
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets are on sale now, and start at just $99 to witness first-hand every Mavs game in the College Park Center this year. As previously announced, UTA plans to return to 100-percent capacity this year but remains flexible to adjust as warranted. Below are the tiered season-ticket options:
 
Floor: $600*
Sections 102/109: $450*
Sections 101/103/108/110: $150
Sections 104-107: $99
* Price includes a minimum $250 Maverick Club donation.
 
Fans can secure their season tickets by visiting UTATickets.com. For additional information regarding season tickets, please contact the UTA Box Office at boxoffice@uta.edu or (817) 272-9595. Click here for more information about season tickets. Single-game tickets will go on sale Oct. 11.
 
UTA returns a key core anchored by David Azore and a several talented newcomers, including Javon Levi who ranks 6th in the nation among all Division-I players in career assists.
 
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