BOSTON - The 2026-27 basketball season opens on Monday with eight of nine programs in action. UMass Lowell is the first program to play, hosting Saint Anselm at 4 p.m. Preseason favorite Binghamton will travel to Monmouth while NJIT hosts Rider and UAlbany is at Northeastern.
This year also marks the inagural America East - Metro Challenge, with all nine conference schools hosting a Metro opponent on Thursday, November 5 or Friday, Nov. 6 and then traveling to Metro opponent the following Sunday. The conference which earns the most victories will be crowned the challenge champion.
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Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference team were released on Sept. 28 with Binghamton earning the top spot in the poll for the first time in league history. UMBC was second after an impressive 2025-26, while two-time defending champion Vermont was selected third. Check out some of the most comprehensive America East Previews below, featuring breakdowns and predictions ahead of Monday's games.
UAlbany
Record: 14-16 Overall, 4-12 AE (T-7th).
Offense: 57.6 PPG | Defense: 55.2 PPG.
Last Game: Lost 55-40 at Vermont (AE Quarterfinals)
Binghamton
Record: 20-13 Overall, 10-6 AE (T-3rd).
Offense: 65.2 PPG | Defense: 61.8 PPG.
Last Game: Lost 70-61 at La Salle (WNIT Second Round)
Last AE Playoff Game: Lost 60-56 at Maine (AE Semifinals)
Bryant
Record: 18-12 Overall, 8-8 AE (6th)
Offense: 63.2 PPG | Defense: 55.0 PPG
Last Game: Lost 45-44 at Binghamton (AE Quarterfinals)
Maine
Record: 19-13 Overall, 12-4 AE (2nd)
Offense: 61.7 PPG | Defense: 60.0 PPG
Last Game: Lost 61-43 at Vermont (AE Championship)
UMBC
Record: 17-15 Overall, 10-6 AE (T-3rd)
Offense: 62.3 PPG | Defense: 58.4 PPG
Last Game: Lost 66-53 at Marshall (WNIT Second Round)
Last AE Playoff Game: Lost 68-65 at Vermont (AE Semifinals, 2OT)
UMass Lowell
Record: 8-21 Overall, 2-14 AE (9th)
Offense: 55.4 PPG | Defense: 66.4 PPG
Last Game: Lost 66-43 at UMBC (Regular Season; did not qualify for AE Playoffs)
NJIT
Record: 19-13 Overall, 9-7 AE (5th)
Offense: 65.4 PPG | Defense: 62.9 PPG
Last Game: Lost 59-52 at Army West Point (WNIT Second Round)
Last AE Playoff Game: Lost 66-65 at UMBC (AE Quarterfinals)
New Hampshire
Record: 10-20 Overall, 4-12 AE (T-7th)
Offense: 55.8 PPG | Defense: 60.1 PPG
Last Game: Lost 77-58 at Maine (AE Quarterfinals)
Vermont
Record: 27-8 Overall, 13-3 AE (1st).
Offense: 65.4 PPG | Defense: 52.2 PPG.
Last Game: Lost 72-52 at Louisville (NCAA First Round)
Last AE Playoff Game: Won 61-43 vs. Maine (AE Championship)
Conference action kicks off on Thursday, Dec. 31 with a full slate of women’s basketball action, including defending champion Vermont traveling to play Maine in a championship rematch, while Binghamton hosts UMBC. Teams will via for home advantage in the 2026 #AEPlayoffs, where once again all games will be played at the higher seed.
The women wrap up their regular season on Saturday, Feb. 27, with #AEPlayoffs Quarterfinal action set for Thursday, March 4. The Semifinals will take place on Monday, March 8, with the #AEPlayoffs Championship set for Friday, March 12 at 5 p.m. at the highest remaining seed.
ABOUT 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.
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -