MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The Milligan University men's basketball program, led by head coach Bill Robinson in his 18th season, announced their 2026-27 season schedule on Wednesday.

Click HERE to view the full Milligan men's basketball slate for the upcoming campaign.

Milligan begins its 2026-27 season on the road across their first eight games in non-conference play. To begin the year, the Buffs head to the Carolina University Bruins in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. The Bruins will join the ranks of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2027-28.

Next for the Buffaloes is a pair of matchups on the campus of Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala. First, MU matches up with the hosting Eagles on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. CT, before battling the Crusaders of William Carey University on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. CT in a neutral-site tilt.

The Buffs' first NCAA Division I exhibition of the season is set for Dec. 3 at the UNC Greensboro Spartans in Greensboro, N.C., with tip-off time yet to be decided.

Another back-to-back sits next on the schedule, as a trip to Mount Vernon, Ohio begins with a matchup against the hosting Cougars of Mount Vernon Nazarene at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6. Then, on Oct. 7 at noon, the Buffaloes face off with the Red Wolves of the University of Indiana-East.

An exhibition against NCAA Division II Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tenn. Will take place on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., before the Buffs head to Beckley, W.Va. to face the West Virginia Tech Golden Bears on Nov. 11 at 5:30 p.m. That tilt rounds out the preseason non-conference schedule.

"We have a brutal start to the season with 11 of our first 12 games away from home," Robinson said, "but I feel that it will definitely prepare our guys for the rest of the season. Carolina University is very talented and is very well coached. The trips to Faulkner and Mount Vernon Nazarene will be great early tests. And our guys love playing the exhibition games against Division 1 and Division 2 opponents."

The AAC schedule starts with the first home game of the season for MU against the Reinhardt University (Ga.) Eagles. The Nov. 14 matchup will tip off at 4 p.m. That contest is followed by a return to the road for two games against the Bluefield University (Va.) Rams (Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m.) and the Union Commonwealth University (Ky.) Bulldogs (Nov. 21, 4 p.m.).

Before Thanksgiving, the Buffaloes will trek to Nashville, where they will play the remaining NCAA DI exhibition on their schedule. The Buffaloes visit the Lipscomb University Bisons on Nov. 22 at 4 p.m.

In the month of December, the Buffs begin by hosting a Dec. 2 contest against the Johnson University Royals at 7:30 p.m. Columbia International University (S.C.) then welcomes the Buffaloes to Columbia, S.C. on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m., before the Buffs have two more home battles versus the University of Pikeville (Ky.) (Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.) and Montreat College (N.C.) (Dec. 12, 4 p.m.). The Buffs will have an 18-day break from games before they return to their home hardwood on Dec. 30, when they play host to the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) Patriots at 3 p.m.

"We only had five days off last Christmas," stated Robinson, "so I am hopeful that this break will be good for the players and staff this season. We will only have six away games the rest of the year, so if we can get some momentum going into January, I think we can finish strong."

Milligan starts the new year with a non-conference contest at home against Carolina on Jan. 2 at 4 p.m. It will be their second meeting of the season after opening the 2026-27 slate against each other.

The Buffaloes welcome Union Commonwealth to Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. for their first AAC tilt of 2027. Next up is another home bout against the Bryan College (Tenn.) Lions at 4 p.m. on Jan. 9. Hitting the road on Jan. 13, the Buffs will have a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Truett McConnell University (Ga.) Bears. Milligan follows that up with their third home AAC tilt of the new year against the Columbia College (S.C.) Koalas on Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. A trio of games away from home will close out the month, with Pikeville (Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m.), Reinhardt (Jan. 23, 4 p.m.) and Montreat (Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.) serving as the hosts.

The final five contests of the regular season take place in February, as Milligan will play Bluefield on Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. from the comforts of home. The Tennessee Wesleyan University Bulldogs then welcome the Buffaloes to Athens, Tenn. on Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. Spartanburg Methodist College's (S.C.) Pioneers will make their first ever trip to Steve Lacy Fieldhouse for a AAC game on Feb. 10, as the battle will get started at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 marks the Buffs' trip west to Johnson University in Kimberlin Heights, Tenn. for a 4 p.m. tip. Lastly, Columbia International makes their way to East Tennessee for the regular-season finale on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m.

The AAC Men's Basketball Tournament will begin on Feb. 24 and conclude on Feb. 27. The tourney will be played at the MeadowView Marriott Resort and Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn. Play-in games will be played for the No. 7-No. 10 seeds on Feb. 24 to decide the final eight squads. Then, Quarterfinals will be played on Feb. 25, Semifinals on Feb. 26 and the tournament final on Feb. 27.

"The AAC is going to be super competitive again this season," concluded Robinson. "Anyone can win on any given night, and that's why our conference is so good. You have to bring it every single night. You can never take a game for granted. I really like this group and we are looking forward to great season together!"