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COLUMBIA, Mo. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will not waste any time getting into the meat of their 2018-19 schedule again this year when they open up against the Missouri Tigers at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mizzou Arena.

The Bears, who won a Division I record 18 games last season under head coach Russ Pennell, will play five teams from the Power 5 conferences this season, beginning with their second meeting with the Tigers from the Southeastern Conference. UCA has opened with the likes of Baylor (last season) and Wisconsin (2016-17) over the past two seasons. Others on this year's schedule include Indiana, Oklahoma State and Louisville. .

UCA, which beat UA-Fort Smith in an exhibition game last Monday, will feature a new look this season with the graduation of record-setting guard Jordan Howard, along with four-year starter Mathieu Kamba and fellow senior Ethan Lee. UCA returns 10 players from last year's squad, plus the addition of 6-foot-9 center SK Shittu, who missed his freshman season due to a medical issue. 

Pennell and his staff added four newcomers to the roster, including expected starting guard Khaleem Bennett, a 6-4, 200-pounder from Hamilton, Ontario, by way of Sunrise Christian Prep. Bennett led six players in double figures with 18 points in the exhibition win over UAFS. Also in the starting lineup will be Shittu, who will team with sophomore 7-0 center Hayden Koval to give the Bears their best inside presence since moving to NCAA Division I in 2006-07.

The most experienced Bears are senior shooting guard Thatch Unruh (6-5, 190, Branson, Mo.) and 6-8, 220-pound senior center Tanner Schmit from Buffalo, N.Y.  Unruh has played in 93 games with 51 starts at UCA and has scored 638 career points and has connected on 117 three-pointers. Schmit has 93 career games under his belt and has 360 career points and 206 career rebounds.

Three sophomores were key contributors for the Bears a year ago and two will be in the starting lineup Tuesday. Guard DeAndre Jones played in all 35 games last season and led the Bears with 159 assists, the fourth-best total in school history and the best by a freshman. Jones turned in a triple double against Lamar last season with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Koval also had a triple double in his first season _ 17 points, 10 rebounds, 11 blocked shots against Houston Baptist _ along with setting the UCA single-season record for blocked shots (105) and single-game mark (11). Koval is just 44 blocks short of breaking the career record of Durrell Nevels set from 2006-08.

Freshman Matthew Mondesir (6-5, 210, Los Angeles) came on strong down the stretch during the 2017-18 season, as did sophomore Jared Chatham (6-8, 185, Los Angeles). Both should have increased minutes and bigger roles for the Bears this season. Junior Aaron Weidenaar (6-7, 205, Bozeman, Mont.) has played in 54 games over two seasons and provides a solid perimeter threat off the bench. 

Junior Darraja Parnell, who has been a key reserve for two seasons, is expected to redshirt after offseason surgery, as will freshmen Jaxson Baker (6-7, 200, Phoenix, Ariz.) and Porter Anderson (6-7, 230, Lamar, Ark.).

The Bears return home on Thursday to face cross-town rival Hendrix College at 7 p.m., followed by University of the Ozarks at 7 p.m. next Monday at the Farris Center. UCA then returns to the road for three games at Pittsburgh (Nov. 15), Troy (Nov. 18) and Saint Louis (Nov. 24) before hosting the first round of the "Governor's I-40 Showdown" against the Little Rock Trojans on Nov. 28..