Men's Basketball to take on Sacred Heart, Manhattan in Inaugural America East – Metro Challenge

ORONO, Maine -- The America East Conference and Metro Conference announced the participating schools and the full schedule of games for the inaugural America East – Metro Basketball Challenge, set for the start of the 2026 men's basketball seasons.

The America East – Metro Basketball Challenge will feature nine men's teams from each conference with games taking place Thursday, November 5 through Monday, November 16, 2026. Teams will play two games – one at home and one on the road – against opponents from the opposing conference. Game times will be determined by the host institution.

Full Men's Schedule:

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Vermont at Fairfield

NJIT at Iona

UAlbany at Manhattan

UMBC at Marist

UMass Lowell at Merrimack

Bryant at Quinnipiac

New Hampshire at Rider

Maine at Sacred Heart

Binghamton at Saint Peter's

Sunday, November 8, 2026

Rider at Binghamton

Fairfield at Bryant

Manhattan at Maine

Sacred Heart at New Hampshire

Saint Peter's at NJIT

Merrimack at UAlbany

Marist at UMass Lowell

Quinnipiac at Vermont

Monday, November 16, 2026

Iona at UMBC

In July of 2025 both Conference announced the creation of a basketball challenge, a new early season showcase that is part of a two-year agreement for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons. This 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.

-UMaine-

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