EDISON, NJ — The Metro Conference and America East Conference jointly announced the inaugural matchups for the 2026 America East – Metro Conference Basketball Challenge, where Manhattan's Men's Basketball team is slated to play the Great Danes of UAlbany and the Black Bears of the University of Maine, per release on Monday morning.
Manhattan will open the America East – Metro Basketball Challenge inside Draddy Gymnasium on Thursday, November 5, when the Jaspers play host to the Albany Great Danes.
Historically, the Jaspers and Great Danes have only met four times in a series dating back to the 2011-12 season, when the Green and White earned a 10-point road victory over UAlbany, 89-79, on March 14, 2012.
Inside Draddy Gymnasium, the last time the two met, the Jaspers and Great Danes have faced off just once on November 16, 2020, in a 57-51 victory, where former Jaspers Tykei Greene and Samir Stewart combined for 31 points to take down UAlbany.
Just three days later, the Jaspers will face off in the backend of the America East – Metro Conference Basketball Challenge doubleheader on Sunday, November 8, against the Black Bears of the University of Maine in Orono and inside Skip Chappelle Court at Memorial Gym.
The Jaspers and the University of Maine have never met, with both programs dating back to the 1904-1905 campaigns.
The familiarity stems from Head Coach John Gallagher, who has proven success against the Black Bears, owning a 20-4 personal record against the Black Bears. All games came for Gallagher, as the head coach of the Hartford Hawks. The last meeting between Gallagher and Maine was on February 16, 2022, when the Hawks beat the Black Bears 75-65.
Against the Great Danes, Gallagher owns a 10-16 record, with his last contest against UAlbany on March 6, 2022, when his Hawks earned the victory 61-49.
The last time the Jaspers played an America East opponent was the inaugural game of Head Coach John Gallagher during the 2023-24 campaign, against the Bulldogs of Bryant University when the Green and White claimed victory by a score of 61-59 inside the Chace Athletic Center.
Originally announced on July 24, 2025, the two-year agreement is set to begin in the 2026-27 academic year, which will take place on Thursday, November 5, through Sunday, November 8. One game will be played at home, while the other game will be played on the road against opponents from the opposing conference.
"The America East-Metro 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 at @AmericaEast.
About the Metro Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Conference 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.
Follow Manhattan Men's Basketball on X (@ManhattanMBB) and on Instagram (@jaspers.mbb).
