CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Thursday the release of the 2018 men's basketball conference schedule that features the normal 18-game lineup, with nine home and nine away games.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @WMUMBB

The Broncos rattled off wins in nine of their last 10 regular-season MAC games on their way to a MAC West title last season and finished a tough 2016-17 schedule with a 16-16 record. WMU went on to defeat Miami in the MAC Tournament opening round for its ninth-straight win before falling in the quarterfinals to Ball State.

Entering his 15th year as a head coach, Steve Hawkins will be looking to win his ninth MAC West title. Hawkins has also led the Broncos to two regular season titles and two MAC Tournament championships, most recently in 2014.

The conference season is set to tip-off on Tuesday, Jan. 2 as the Broncos host 2016 MAC regular-season overall champion Akron at University Arena. WMU plays five of its nine games in January at home and splits four of its eight games in February between the road and Kalamazoo. The Broncos conclude the regular season with rival Central Michigan in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. on Friday, March 2.

WMU's home games consist of Ball State (1/13), Buffalo (1/20), Toledo (1/23), Northern Illinois (1/27), Miami (2/6), Ohio (2/10), Central Michigan (2/20) and Eastern Michigan on Feb. 27.

The Broncos will be on the road at Miami (1/6), Toledo (1/9), Kent State (1/16), Eastern Michigan (1/30), Buffalo (2/3), Bowling Green (2/13), Northern Illinois (2/17) and Ball State (2/24).

"This year's conference schedule is much more balanced," Hawkins said. "Last year we started off the MAC season with seven of our first 11 games on the road, which was pretty much unparalleled. One thing is to be certain about the MAC - any year, any team, any arena ... every game is going to be a dogfight. Top to bottom, our league is competitive."

Tip times are to be announced but please check back to wmubroncos.com for updated times coming in the following weeks. Television times are expected to be released by the conference office in October.

January 2             Akron
January 6              at Miami
January 9              at Toledo
January 13           Ball State
January 16            at Kent State
January 20           Buffalo
January 23           Toledo
January 27           Northern Illinois
January 30            at Eastern Michigan
February 3            at Buffalo
February 6           Miami
February 10         Ohio
February 13          at Bowling Green
February 17          at Northern Illinois
February 20         Central Michigan
February 24          at Ball State
February 27         Eastern Michigan
March 2                at Central Michigan