CEDAR FALLS - Northern Iowa will open its regular-season men's basketball schedule on the road, including a stop in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

According to the full schedule released by the university Sunday, the Panthers play a pair of exhibition games on Oct. 31 (Upper Iowa) and Nov. 7 (North Carolina-Pembroke). Then coach Ben Jacobson's team goes to Denver to officially begin the 2009-10 season Nov. 13.

After that, UNI travels to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam, beginning Nov. 20 with a matchup against DePaul. The Panthers continue against either Tennessee or East Carolina before playing their final game in the tournament Nov. 23 against an opponent to be determined.

UNI's first regular-season game in the McLeod Center is set for Nov. 28 against Northern Illinois. The Panthers travel to Iowa State Dec. 2 and host Iowa Dec. 8.

Missouri Valley Conference play commences Dec. 29 at Creighton. The first Valley home game is set for Jan. 1 against Evansville.

Men's basketball season tickets are available at a cost of $220 per seat. Members of the Panther Scholarship Club can save $10 on a season ticket by purchasing prior to Oct. 2.

UNI also will offer a special bleacher season ticket for youths ages 3 through 16 and seniors (60-over) for $200.

For more information, call (319) 273-4849.

2009-2010 schedule

Oct. 31 - Upper Iowa (exhibition), 12:05 p.m.

Nov. 7 - North Carolina-Pembroke (exhibition), 12:05 p.m.; Nov. 13 - at Denver, 8:30 p.m.; Nov. 20 - at Paradise Jam (U.S. Virgin Islands), vs. DePaul, 12:05 p.m.; Nov. 21-22 - at Paradise Jam vs. Tennessee/East Carolina, TBA; Nov. 23 - at Paraside Jam, opponent TBD; Nov. 28 - Northern Illinois, TBD

Dec. 2 - at Iowa State, 7:05 p.m.; Dec. 8 - Iowa, 7:05 p.m.; Dec. 12 - Siena, 7:05 p.m.; Dec. 19 - at North Dakota, 1:05 p.m.; Dec. 23 - Wyoming, 7:05 p.m.; Dec. 29 - at Creighton, 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 1 - Evansville, 7:05 p.m.; Jan. 3 - Missouri State, 1:05 p.m.; Jan. 6 - at Southern Illinois, 8 p.m. (ESPNU); Jan. 9 - at Illinois State, 3 p.m. (ESPN2); Jan. 12 - Bradley, 8 p.m. (ESPNU); Jan. 16 - Indiana State, 7:05 p.m.; Jan. 19 - at Wichita State, 8 p.m. (ESPNU); Jan. 24 - at Indiana State, 1:05 p.m. (MVC TV); Jan. 27 - Drake, 7:05 p.m.; Jan. 30 - at Missouri State, 2:05 p.m.

Feb. 3 - Wichita State, 7:05 p.m.; Feb. 6 - Southern Illinois, 5 p.m. (ESPN2); Feb. 10 - at Drake, TBD; Feb. 13 - at Bradley, 1:05 p.m. (MVC TV); Feb. 16 - Creighton, 7:05 p.m. (MVC TV); Feb. 19 or 20 - ESPNU BracketBuster, TBD; Feb. 23 - at Evansville, TBD; Feb. 27 - Illinois State, TBD

March 4-7 - at Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, St. Louis