MAAC Basketball Returns to Atlantic City as New Schedule Impacts Teams and Fans

For the seventh consecutive year, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is bringing their Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for six days of College Basketball action.

The winners of the Men's and Women's tournaments will receive automatic qualifiers to their respective NCAA Tournament brackets. "March Madness" for the MAAC College Basketball players begins in Atlantic City, but 2026 marks the first year with a modified schedule.

What Is Different With This Year's Schedule and What Schools Are Competing

From 2020 to 2025, the MAAC Basketball tournaments were played from Tuesday to Saturday the same week as the other major Conference Basketball tournaments like the Big Ten, SEC, and Big East. But a new multiyear media rights agreement between the MAAC and ESPN has moved the conference tournament schedule in exchange for more television and digital media visibility.

The 2026 MAAC Men's and Women's Tournaments start on Thursday, March 5th, with the Women's Championship game on Monday, March 9th, and the Men's Championship Game on Tuesday, March 10th.

Here Is The Full Schedule of MAAC Tournament Games at Boardwalk Hall:

*March 5th (Thursday):
Women's First Round (Game 1): No. 8 Manhattan vs. No. 9 Marist at 12:00 PM
Women's First Round (Game 2): No. 7 Sacred Heart vs. No. 10 Saint Peter's 2:30 PM
Men's First Round (Game 1): No. 8 Iona vs. No. 9 Sacred Heart at 6:00 PM
Men's First Round (Game 2): No. 7 Fairfield vs. No. 10 Manhattan at 8:30 PM

*March 6th (Friday):
Women's Quarterfinals (Game 3): No. 1 Quinnipiac vs. Winner Game 1 at 12:00 PM
Women's Quarterfinals (Game 4): No. 2 Fairfield vs. Winner Game 2 at 2:30 PM
Men's Quarterfinals (Game 3): No. 1 Merrimack vs. Winner Game 1 at 6:00 PM
Men's Quarterfinals (Game 4): No. 2 Saint Peter's vs. Winner Game 2 at 8:30 PM

*March 7th (Saturday):
Women's Quarterfinals (Game 5): No. 4 Iona vs. No. 5 Siena at 12:00 PM
Women's Quarterfinals (Game 6): No. 3 Merrimack vs. No. 6 Mount St. Mary's at 2:30 PM
Men's Quarterfinals (Game 5): No. 4 Quinnipiac vs. No. 5 Marist at 6:00 PM
Men's Quarterfinals (Game 6): No. 3 Siena vs. No. 6 Mount St. Mary's at 8:30 PM

*March 8th (Sunday):
Women's Semifinals (Game 7): Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 at 12:00 PM
Women's Semifinals (Game 8): Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 6 at 2:30 PM
Men's Semifinals (Game 7): Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 at 6:00 PM
Men's Semifinals (Game 8): Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 6 at 8:30 PM

*March 9th (Monday)
Women's Championship (Game 9): Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 at 6:00 PM

*March 10th (Tuesday)
Men's Championship (Game 9): Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 at 9:00 PM

Get all the information about tickets on sale for all sessions and single-session games at the MAAC Basketball Tournament website.