UMHB Men’s Basketball To Face UT-Arlington in Non-Conference Play

Above photo of the UMHB men’s basketball by Riley Zayas/True To The Cru

BELTON, Texas- The 2021-2022 UMHB men’s basketball schedule will feature at least one NCAA Div. I opponent, as the Crusaders are set to face UT-Arlington on Nov. 13.

The news of the contest, which will be the Mavericks’ homecoming game, was announced in a press release by the UTA athletic department.

The Saturday night matchup is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+. It will be the first meeting between the two programs.

UT-Arlington is beginning its first season under new head coach Greg Young, who has been on the Mavericks’ coaching staff since 2009.

“We are extremely excited about our non-conference schedule this upcoming season,” stated Young in the press release. “As has been the case most seasons during my 12-year tenure here, our non-league schedule is extremely challenging.”

UMHB fits the mold of a challenging non-conference opponent for the Mavericks, due to the Cru’s impressive depth and group of newcomers.

In this recruiting class, the Cru picked up commitments from Abilene Christian’s Payton Brooks, UT Permian-Basin’s Tyler Jarolik, ETBU’s Logan Blow, and several other transfers who have the potential to make an immediate impact.

UMHB head coach Clif Carroll has often scheduled Div. I opponents when assembling his team’s non-conference slate, both at Sul Ross State and now at UMHB. During his first season in Belton last year, the Cru went toe-to-toe with Texas State in the season opener and Sam Houston State just before conference play.

The Crusaders posted a 16-4 record during the 2020-2021 season, and fought through ASC play without a flaw to their record, going 13-0.

UTA is a member of the Sun Belt Conference and posted a 13-13 record last season. The Mavericks went 9-8 in conference play.

Additionally, UMHB is featured on Southwestern’s schedule, with the Cru hosting the Pirates on Nov. 9 at 7:00 p.m. CT. Southwestern is a Div. III program in the SCAC conference.