WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Under the direction of third-year head coach King Rice, the Monmouth University men's basketball program will begin competition in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 2013-14. The league office released the 2013-14 conference schedule for its 11 member institutions on Thursday afternoon.

The Hawks will kick off their inaugural campaign in the MAAC with a home game versus in-state rival Rider University on Thursday, Dec. 5, before heading to 2013 MAAC Tournament finalist Manhattan on Sunday, Dec. 8.

Monmouth returns home after the New Year to host Siena on Thursday, Jan. 2 and fellow MAAC newcomer Quinnipiac on Saturday, Jan. 4. The Blue and White then embark on a three-game road swing which takes them to upstate New York for games at defending regular season champion Niagara (Friday, Jan. 10) and Canisius (Sunday, Jan. 12), before traveling to Quinnipiac on Thursday, Jan. 16.

The Hawks entertain Canisius on Sunday, Jan. 19 in the MAC, followed by a home contest with Fairfield on Thursday, Jan. 23.

MU heads across the state to battle Rider on Sunday, Jan. 26, and travels to Marist (Thursday, Jan. 30), before hosting defending champion Iona on Monday, February 3.

The Blue and White start their second three-game league road trip on Friday, Feb. 7 when the Hawks travel to Fairfield, before heading to New Jersey rival Saint Peter's (Sunday, Feb. 9) and Iona (Friday, Feb. 14).

MU's next four MAAC games are all home tilts, as the Hawks host Marist (Sunday, Feb. 16), Manhattan (Wednesday, Feb. 19), Saint Peter's (Saturday, Feb. 22) and Niagara (Friday, Feb. 28), before rounding out their slate with a road game at Siena on Sunday, Mar. 2.

The full 2013-14 MAAC television broadcast schedule will be announced on Sept. 11 as part of the MAAC's "2013-14 Preseason Hoops Show."

For the third straight and final season, the MAAC Championship will be held at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. from March 6-10.

@MonmouthBBall -- #FlyHawks