RICHMOND, Ky. – First-year head coach A.W. Hamilton will open his Division I head coaching career against his alma mater, Marshall.
 
The Eastern Kentucky University men's basketball team released its 2018-19 non-conference schedule on Wednesday, and the Colonels open the season by hosting the Thundering Herd on Wednesday, November 7 at McBrayer Arena.
 
The last time Marshall visited Richmond, EKU defeated the Herd, 89-80, on December 3, 2016 behind 30 points and 10 rebounds from Nick Mayo.
 
Marshall went 25-11 last season, winning the C-USA Tournament title and upsetting No. 4 seed Wichita State in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 64. The Thundering Herd return senior All-American Jon Elmore, who averaged 22.7 points and 8.7 assists-per-game in 2017-18.
 
In all, EKU's non-conference schedule features four teams that played in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Five of the Colonels' opponents won 22 or more games last season.
 
Following the opener against Marshall, Eastern Kentucky will travel south to face Chattanooga on Saturday, November 10.
 
The Colonels then return home to host Midway on Tuesday, November 13. Following that game, EKU will fly to St. Thomas to play Kansas State on Friday, November 16 in the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam.
 
K-State went 25-12 and knocked off Kentucky to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight last season. The Wildcats are expected to return 11 players, including all six players who earned starts in 2017-18.
 
EKU will play two additional Paradise Jam games in St. Thomas, on Thursday, November 17, and Saturday, November 19. Potential opponents include Penn, Northern Iowa, Missouri, Kennesaw State, Old Dominion and Oregon State.
 
Upon returning from the Caribbean, the Colonels will travel to Knoxville to face defending SEC regular season co-champion Tennessee on Wednesday, November 28. The Vols went 26-9 and were a No. 3 seed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
 
Eastern will travel to North Carolina to face head coach Tubby Smith and High Point on Saturday, December 1, before returning home to host USC Upstate on Wednesday, December 5.
 
EKU will then host in-state rival Northern Kentucky on Saturday, December 8. It will mark the first time NKU has visited McBrayer Arena since December 2, 1992 (an 81-71 EKU win).
 
Northern Kentucky finished 22-10 and won the Horizon League regular season champion in 2017-18. The Norse faced Louisville in the first round of the 2018 National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
 
The Colonels will make the short drive to Cincinnati to face Xavier on Saturday, December 15. It will be the first matchup between EKU and Xavier since January 9, 2006.
 
The Musketeers went 29-6 last season and were a No. 1 seed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
 
EKU will then travel to Pittsburgh to face Duquesne on Saturday, December 22. It will be the first-ever matchup between the two programs.
 
The Colonels will close out their non-conference slate by hosting Brescia on Saturday, December 29.
 
Mayo is EKU's top returner. The rising senior from Oakland, Maine was voted first team All-OVC for the third consecutive season after averaging 18.0 points and 6.7 rebounds-per-game in 2017-18.
 
2018-19 EKU Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
 
Thursday, November 1^st – vs. Kentucky Christian (Exhibition)
Wednesday, November 7^th – vs. Marshall
Saturday, November 10^th – at Chattanooga
Tuesday, November 13^th  – vs. Midway
Friday, November 16^th – vs. Kansas State (Paradise Jam)
Saturday, November 17^th – vs. TBA (Paradise Jam)
Monday, November 19^th – vs. TBA (Paradise Jam)
Wednesday, November 28^th – at Tennessee
Saturday, December 1^st – at High Point
Wednesday, December 5^th – vs. USC Upstate
Saturday, December 8^th – vs. Northern Kentucky
Saturday, December 15^th – at Xavier
Saturday, December 22^nd – at Duquesne
Saturday, December 29^th – vs. Brescia​