BOSTON/EDISON, N.J. - The America East Conference and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced today the creation of the America East-MAAC Basketball Challenge, a new early season showcase that will debut at the start of the 2026-27 college basketball season and continue through the 2027-28 season as part of a two-year agreement.
The inaugural America East-MAAC Basketball Challenge will take place Thursday, November 5 through Sunday, November 8, 2026, featuring men’s and women’s matchups between the two conferences. Teams will play two games – one at home and one on the road – against opponents from the opposing conference. Matchups for the second year of the Challenge will be determined in the lead-up to the 2027-28 season. Details on matchups, opponents, and tip-off times will be released closer to the event.
“We are excited to start up the America East-MAAC Challenge in 2026 to provide our men's and women's basketball programs quality early-season non-conference matchups with similar opponents both at home and on the road,” said America East Commissioner, Brad Walker. “Non-conference scheduling is getting more difficult each year. Basketball is the priority for both America East and MAAC and this challenge, the first of its kind for two northeast-based Division I conferences is the perfect fit and will bring exciting action to the start of the 2026 season and hopefully beyond.”
“We are excited to collaborate with the America East on a basketball challenge,” said MAAC Commissioner Travis Tellitocci. “With college basketball moving to a 32-game schedule in 2026 and the season starting a week earlier, this initiative is both timely and logical. It provides our men’s and women’s basketball programs with quality competition at home and on the road, helping to ease the challenges of non-conference scheduling while offering regional opponents to reduce travel demands. I look forward to working with the America East on this exciting initiative.”
The America East-MAAC Basketball Challenge will be the first ever basketball challenge between two Northeast-based Division I leagues. Sharing a regional footprint, a mutual broadcast partner in ESPN, a common sponsorship rights holder in Van Wagner, and the same men’s basketball officiating coordinator, the Challenge represents a natural and strategic collaboration.
About the America East:
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Threads or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.
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