The Ohio University men’s basketball team will begin their 2011 Mid-American Conference play  in familiar territory, at home against arch-rival Miami in the 188th Battle of the Bricks.

Conference play will open at home on Jan. 9 as the 2010 MAC Tournament champion Bobcats look to defend their title as well as add a regular-season crown to their possession.

“We are very excited about this upcoming season,” third-year head coach John Groce said in a statement released by the team. “The MAC is one of the toughest leagues in America and it’s going to be another extremely competitive season. Our team is looking forward to the opportunity of playing for a regular-season title and having a chance to repeat as conference-tournament champions.”

The game against Miami is the first of eight home games that will be played at the Convo in 2011.

The Bobcats will also face Kent State (Jan. 15), Buffalo (Jan. 22), Eastern Michigan (Jan. 26), Northern Illinois (Feb. 5), Toledo (Feb. 9), Bowling Green (Feb. 23) and Akron on Senior Night (March 1), at home in 2011.

“The Convo is an outstanding venue and we are truly fortunate to have the best fans in the nation supporting us at every home game,” Groce said. “To be able to play in front of our home crowd 18 times during the regular season, counting our non-conference schedule, will be extremely beneficial to us during the 2010-11 season.”

Ohio will finish the 2010-2011 MAC campaign the same way it began, against conference-foe Miami, only this time in Oxford.

Groce’s squad will also face tough road tests at Akron, Bowling Green, Ball State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Buffalo and Kent State.

The Bobcats finished 2009-2010 MAC play at 7-9 before catching fire and winning the MAC Tournament.

For the Bobcat’s complete schedule for the 2010-2011 season, visit ohiobobcats.com.

RO137807@ohio.edu – Twitter: @Rob_Ogden