EDISON, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has announced its league men's basketball slate. The Rider University Men's Basketball team will face Quinnipiac, Fairfield, Canisius and Niagara once each and the remainder of the league's teams in home-and-home series to comprise to 20-game docket.

League play opens on Dec. 4, with the Broncs heading north to face Merrimack. The road trip continues on Dec. 7 at defending MAAC Regular Season Champion Quinnipiac. Following a return to non-league play, conference play resumes in earnest on Dec. 29, when the Broncs welcome Manhattan to Alumni Gym. 

Rider will face Quinnipiac and Fairfield once each, both on the road, while Canisius and Niagara only visit Alumni Gym on Feb. 20 and 22, respectively. It will mark the first time in 29 years in the league that Rider will not play a MAAC game in Western New York.

Another highlight of the Broncs' non-league schedule is a Martin Luther King Day game on Monday, Jan. 19 vs. Sacred Heart. Rider concludes the regular season on the road at Iona (Feb. 27) and Siena (Mar. 1), before the top 10 teams in the standings head to Atlantic City for the MAAC Championships Mar. 5-10 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

Television information and start times will be announced at a later date.

Merrimack
Thursday, Dec. 4 * North Andover, MA
Saturday, Feb. 7 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Tied, 1-1
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 83-78 (Feb. 28, 2025; North Andover, MA)
2024-25 Record: 18-15 (14-6 MAAC)
Quickly: Rider and Merrimack split the first two games of the series between the two teams last year, with each team winning on the road. In the first-ever meeting, Budd Clark's second-chance jumper with eight seconds remaining was the difference in a 66-64 Merrimack victory at Alumni Gym, before Rider shot a season-high 56.1 percent and Zion Cruz led six Broncs in double figures with 23 points in an 83-78 victory in Massachusetts. The Warriors lost Clark (Seton Hall), an All-MAAC First Team guard, and forward Bryan Etumnu (Wright State), the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, to transfer.

Quinnipiac
Sunday, Dec. 7 * Hamden, CT

Series History: Tied, 14-14
Winning Streak: Quinnipiac, 3
Last Meeting: Quinnipiac, 78-64 (Mar. 12, 2025; Atlantic City, NJ – MAAC Quarterfinals)
2024-25 Record: 20-13 (15-5 MAAC)
Quickly: After dominating the early portion of the series with Quinnipiac, 12-2, the Broncs have fallen to the Bobcats in 12 of the next 14, including three games last season. Quinnipiac defeated the Broncs, 78-64, in the 2025 MAAC Quarterfinals and the MAAC Regular Season Champions return 2025 MAAC Player of the Year Amarri Monroe and All-Rookie Team selection Jaden Zimmerman. Departed is fellow All-MAAC First Team selection Paul Otieno (Saint Louis), but the Bobcats figure to once again challenge for the top of the league standings.

Manhattan
Monday, Dec. 29 * Alumni Gym
Friday, Jan. 30 * Riverdale, NY

Series History: Rider leads, 39-27
Winning Streak: Manhattan, 1
Last Meeting: Manhattan, 80-79 (Jan. 5, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 17-14 (12-8 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs had won five straight against Manhattan prior to an 80-79 heartbreaking setback to the Jaspers last Jan. 5 at Alumni Gym on Jaden Winston's deep three-pointer with 6.8 seconds remaining. The loss was the only meeting between the two teams last year. Manhattan has a good deal back from last season, including All-MAAC Second Team and MAAC Rookie of the Year Will Sydnor, Third Teamer and MAAC Sixth Player of the Year Devin Dinkins and Winston.

Siena
Sunday, Jan. 4 * Alumni Gym
Sunday, Mar. 1 * Albany, NY

Series History: Siena leads, 39-23
Winning Streak: Rider, 3
Last Meeting: Rider, 78-76 (Mar. 11, 2025; Atlantic City, NJ – MAAC Opening Round)
2024-25 Record: 14-18 (9-11 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs have won the last three meetings with the Saints, including two dramatic two-point victories last season. Tank Byard's buzzer beater on Feb. 8 in Lawrenceville gave the Broncs a pivotal victory, before Flash Burton found Tariq Ingraham for a lay-up with 0.7 seconds left gave Rider a MAAC Championship Opening Round victory. The Saints return All-MAAC Second Team selection Justice Shoats and All-Rookie Teamer Gavin Doty.

Fairfield
Friday, Jan. 9 * Fairfield, CT

Series History: Fairfield leads, 41-36
Winning Streak: Fairfield, 4
Last Meeting: Fairfield, 69-49 (Feb. 21, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 12-20 (8-12 MAAC)
Quickly: Fairfield has had the Broncs' number of late, winning the last four meetings. Rider erased a 14-point second half deficit to tie the game with 14.6 seconds left in last year's MAAC opener on Dec. 4, before the Stags took the game on a tip-in putback with less than two seconds remaining. The Stags then ran away with a 20-point victory on Feb. 21 at Alumni Gym. The Stags must replace All-MAAC Second Team selection Prophet Johnson (13.3 ppg., 7.7 rpg.), who transferred to Sacramento State. 

Marist
Sunday, Jan. 11 * Alumni Gym
Thursday, Feb. 5 * Poughkeepsie, NY

Series History: Rider leads, 43-28
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 64-57 (Jan. 18, 2025; Poughkeepsie, NY)
2024-25 Record: 20-10 (13-7 MAAC)
Quickly: After Marist opened the league slate 6-0, the Broncs delivered one of their most complete performances to stun the Red Foxes in Poughkeepsie in the lone meeting between the two teams on Jan. 18 last season. Flash Burton scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half. All-MAAC First Team selection Josh Pascarelli transferred to Colorado State in the offseason. But the Red Foxes return All-MAAC Third Teamer Elijah Lewis (11.6 ppg., 5.0 rpg.) and two other starters in Jadin Collins-Roberts (8.3 ppg., 5.3 rpg.) and Jaden Daughtry (6.0 ppg., 6.3 rpg.).  

Iona
Wednesday, Jan. 14 * Alumni Gym
Friday, Feb. 27 * New Rochelle, NY

Series History: Iona leads, 48-30
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 74-71 (Feb. 14, 2025; New Rochelle, NY)
2024-25 Record: 17-17 (12-8 MAAC)
Quickly: Rider and Iona split last season's regular-season series, with each team winning on the road. The Broncs erased a double-digit second-half deficit to earn a 74-71 win in New Rochelle last Feb. 14. Zion Cruz led the Broncs with 18 points. The Gaels will be led by Dan Geriot, Iona's fifth head coach in eight seasons (Tim Cluess, Tra Arnold, Rick Pitino, Tobin Anderson. A Springfield, PA, native, Geriot  comes to Iona following the last seven years in the professional ranks, with six seasons either with the Cleveland Cavaliers or their G League affiliate and the 2024-25 as an assistant for the New Orleans Pelicans. Luke Jungers (5.5 ppg.) is the lone key rotation piece back for Iona among a host of transfers, most with Division I experience.

Saint Peter's
Saturday, Jan. 17 * Jersey City, NJ
Sunday, Feb. 1 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Rider leads, 45-37
Winning Streak: Saint Peter's, 1
Last Meeting: Saint Peter's, 66-65 (Feb. 16, 2025; Jersey City, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 12-16 (7-13 MAAC)
Quickly: Rider and Saint Peter's split a pair of meetings last season, with each team taking a win on its home court. The Broncs led throughout in a Jan. 31 home win, Head Coach Kevin Baggett's 200^th career victory. Saint Peter's then took a 66-65 victory on Feb. 16 in Jersey City with a pair of free throws in the final seconds following a controversial touch foul near halfcourt. The Peacocks' top returner is Bryce Eaton (10.9 ppg.).

Sacred Heart
Monday, Jan. 19 * Alumni Gym
Sunday, Feb. 15 * Fairfield, CT

Series History: Rider leads, 2-1
Winning Streak: Sacred Heart, 1
Last Meeting: Sacred Heart, 89-77 (Feb. 6, 2025; Fairfield, CT)
2024-25 Record: 15-18 (10-10 MAAC)
Quickly: Rider fell at Sacred Heart, 89-77, in the only meeting of the Pioneers' first season in the MAAC last Feb. 6 in Fairfield, CT. Tanner Thomas posted a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, but has since transferred to Loyola Marymount. But the Pioneers have plenty back in All-MAAC Third Team selection Anquan Hill (12.8 ppg., 5.7 rpg.), All-Rookie Team point guard Mekhi Conner (8.1 ppg., 6.6 apg.) and fellow sophomore guard Nyle Ralph-Beyer (9.5 ppg.).

Mount St. Mary's
Saturday, Jan. 24 * Emmitsburg, MD
Friday, Feb. 13 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Rider leads, 17-14
Winning Streak: Mount St. Mary's, 1
Last Meeting: Mount St. Mary's, 79-72 (Feb. 23, 2025; Emmitsburg, MD)
2024-25 Record: 23-13 (12-8 MAAC)
Quickly: Mount St. Mary's made an improbable run to the MAAC Tournament Championship last season as the No. 6 seed, before winning an NCAA Tournament First Four game over American. Three starters transferred up (Dola Adebayo – George Mason; Dallas Hobbs – Rice; Carmelo Pacheco – UCF), but the Mountaineers return a pair of key contributors in Xavier Lipscomb (6.8 ppg.) and Arlandus Keyes (6.8 ppg.).

Canisius
Friday, Feb. 20 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Rider leads, 43-18
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 78-50 (Mar. 6, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 3-28 (3-17 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs and Griffs split last season's series, with Canisius earning a convincing 85-67 victory on its home court on Jan. 10, before the Broncs left no doubt with a 78-50 victory on Mar. 6 at Alumni Gym. The Griffs lost the league's scoring leader, Paul McMillan IV (20.0 ppg.) to Grambling State, and return just two rotation fixtures in Anthony Benard (5.1 ppg. in 31 games/25 starts) and Anthony van der Plas (11 starts, 31 games played).
  
Niagara
Sunday, Feb. 22 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Rider leads, 34-26
Winning Streak: Rider, 3
Last Meeting: Rider, 77-76 (Mar. 8, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 11-20 (6-14 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs swept the Purple Eagles last season, earning a 68-65 victory on Jan. 12 in Western New York, before pulling out a 77-76 victory on Mar. 8 at Alumni Gym on Flash Burton's game-winning three-pointer with 4.3 seconds left in regulation. The Purple Eagles return just one contributor from last year's roster in Justin Page (5.3 ppg.).