BY ALEJANDRO LOPEZ
The MAAC and America East Conferences have announced a partnership for a new ‘Basketball Challenge’ set to begin in the 2026-27 season.
The challenge will feature matchups between the men’s and women’s teams of both conferences and will officially tip off on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026.
Teams will play two games, one at home and one on the road, in each matchup. The challenge is set to continue through the 2027-28 season.
“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.”
This will be the first-ever basketball challenge between Northeast-based Division I conferences.
“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.”
More details and specifics for each matchup will be decided closer to the game’s date.
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