LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University men's basketball team has announced its 2026-27 schedule in conjunction with the Metro Conference schedule announcement. The Rider University men's basketball team will face Merrimack, Sacred Heart, Iona, and Siena once each and the remainder of the league's teams in home-and-home series to comprise the 20-game conference docket along with high major non-conference games against Pittsburgh, UConn, Miami, Villanova, and Georgetown.
 
Rider opens the season Nov. 2 at Pittsburgh before playing its pair of games in the Metro-America East Challenge. The Broncs then travel to Villanova and Miami before returning home to play Navy. Rider then travels to Loyola (MD), Army, and UConn surrounding the thanksgiving break.

League play opens on Dec. 4, with the Broncs heading west to play Canisius and Niagara. Following a return to non-league play at Georgetown, conference play resumes in earnest on Dec. 29, when the Broncs welcome Quinnipiac to Canastra Hammer Arena. 

Rider will face Merrimack and Sacred Heart once each, both in Canastra Hammer Arena, while the Broncs will make trips to Iona and Siena for the lone games against the Saints and Gaels.

Another highlight of the Broncs' league schedule is a Martin Luther King Day game on Monday, Jan. 18 vs. Marist. Rider concludes the regular season hosting Niagara (Feb. 26) and Canisius (Feb. 28) before the top 10 teams in the standings head to Atlantic City for the MAAC Championships Mar. 4-9 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

Television information and start times will be announced at a later date. Season ticket information will be announced soon and existing season ticket holders will be receiving an e-mail shortly regarding renewals for the 2026-27 season.

Pittsburgh
Monday, Nov. 2 * Pittsburgh, PA

Series History: Pittsburgh leads, 2-0
Winning Streak: Pittsburgh, 2
Last Meeting: Pittsburgh, 86-78 (Nov. 13, 2011; Pittsburgh, PA)
2025-26 Record: 13-20 (5-13 ACC)
Quickly: The Broncs will visit Pitt for the first time since playing the Panthers in back-to-back seasons in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, Rider led the then 10^th-ranked Panthers 73-72 with five minutes to play before ultimately falling by eight.
 
New Hampshire **Metro-America East Challenge**
Thursday, Nov. 5 * Canastra Hammer Arena

Series History: Tied, 1-1
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 84-67 (Nov. 29, 1997; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2025-26 Record: 9-21 (5-11 America East)
Quickly: The Broncs first opponent in the inaugural Metro-America East Challenge, Rider will host the Wildcats for the first time since the teams met in the 1997-98 season.
 
Binghamton **Metro-America East Challenge**
Sunday, Nov. 8 * Binghamton, NY

Series History: Rider leads, 3-1
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 58-50 (Nov. 28, 2009; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2025-26 Record: 8-23 (4-12 America East)
Quickly: The Broncs second opponent in the inaugural Metro-America East Challenge, Rider visits the Bearcats. The teams last met in 2009 when now assistant coach Ryan Thompson scored 21 points to lead the Broncs to the eight-point win.
 
Villanova
Saturday, Nov. 14 * Villanova, PA

Series History: Villanova leads, 24-2
Winning Streak: Villanova, 16
Last Meeting: Villanova, 72-48 (Nov. 27, 2024; Villanova, PA)
2025-26 Record: 24-9 (15-5 Big East)
Quickly: The Broncs visit Villanova for the second time in the last three seasons. Last time the teams met, Flash Burton scored 15 and Jay Alvarez added 11, but the Broncs were defeated by the Wildcats.
 
Miami (FL)
Tuesday, Nov. 17 * Coral Gables, FL

Series History: Miami leads, 1-0
Winning Streak: Miami, 1
Last Meeting: Miami, 61-58 (Dec. 18, 1985; Coral Gables, FL)
2025-26 Record: 26-9 (13-5 ACC)
Quickly: The Broncs and Hurricanes have met just once before, a 61-58 win for Miami in the 1985-86 season.
 
Navy
Saturday, Nov. 21 * Canastra Hammer Arena

Series History: Rider leads, 1-0
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 90-79 (Nov. 12, 2024; Annapolis, MD)
2025-26 Record: 26-8 (17-1 Patriot)
Quickly: The Broncs and Midshipmen met for the first time ever just two seasons ago. Jay Alvarez, T.J. Weeks Jr., Flash Burton, and Ife West-Ingram all scored in double figures as the Broncs shot 53% from the field and earned a 90-79 win.
 
Loyola (MD)
Tuesday, Nov. 24 * Baltimore, MD

Series History: Rider leads, 23-18
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 64-57 (Jan. 13, 2013; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2025-26 Record: 12-20 (8-10 Patriot)
Quickly: The Broncs and Greyhounds have met 41 times in program history, but will be meeting for the first time since Loyola left the then-MAAC for the Patriot League following the 2012-13 season. Jonathon Thompson and Daniel Stewart both scored 23 points to lead the Broncs to the win in the final game between the programs as conference rivals.
 
Army West Point
Saturday, Nov. 28 * West Point, NY

Series History: Army leads, 4-1
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 96-74 (Dec. 3, 1993; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2025-26 Record: 11-21 (5-13 Patriot)
Quickly: The Broncs and Black Knights will meet for the first time since 1993. That game marked Rider's first-ever win over the Black Knights.
 
Connecticut
Monday, Nov. 30 * Storrs, CT

Series History: Connecticut leads, 1-0
Winning Streak: Connecticut, 1
Last Meeting: Connecticut, 64-46 (Mar. 17, 1994; Miami, FL)
2025-26 Record: 34-6 (17-3 Big East)
Quickly: The Broncs and Huskies will play for the first-time ever in the regular season with the meeting this year. The team's only ever meeting came in the first round of the 1994 NCAA Tournament when the 15-seed Broncs fell to the 2-seed Huskies.
 
Canisius **Metro Games**
Friday, Dec. 4 * Buffalo, NY
Sunday, Feb. 28 * Canastra Hammer Arena

Series History: Rider leads, 43-19
Winning Streak: Canisius, 1
Last Meeting: Canisius, 72-66 (Feb. 20, 2026; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2025-26 Record: 10-21 (5-15 MAAC)
Quickly: The Golden Griffins won the lone game between the teams last season. Rider fought back from a 10-point halftime deficit to tie the game midway through the second half before Canisius pulled away late to earn the win. Shemani Fuller had 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds in the setback.
  
Niagara **Metro Games**
Sunday, Dec. 6 * Niagara University, NY
Friday, Feb. 26 * Canastra Hammer Arena

Series History: Rider leads, 35-26
Winning Streak: Rider, 4
Last Meeting: Rider, 67-62 (Feb. 22, 2026; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2025-26 Record: 8-22 (5-15 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs won the lone meeting with the Purple Eagles last season behind a game-high 20 points from Flash Burton, including a three with 1:35 that gave the Broncs the lead for good in the five-point win in Lawrenceville.
 
Georgetown
Wednesday, Dec. 9 * Washington, DC

Series History: Georgetown leads, 2-0
Winning Streak: Georgetown, 2
Last Meeting: Georgetown, 83-68 (Dec. 20, 1975; Washington, DC)
2025-26 Record: 16-18 (6-14 Big East)
Quickly: The Broncs and Hoyas will play for the first time since the 1975-76 season. The Broncs will see a familiar face on the opposing bench however as Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley has faced off against the Broncs 13 times in his career between his stops at Fairfield and Providence.
 
Quinnipiac **Metro Games**
Tuesday, Dec. 29 * Canastra Hammer Arena
Sunday, Jan. 31 * Hamden, CT

Series History: Quinnipiac leads, 15-14
Winning Streak: Quinnipiac, 4
Last Meeting: Quinnipiac, 72-58 (Dec. 7, 2025; Hamden, CT)
2024-25 Record: 19-13 (12-8 MAAC)
Quickly: After dominating the early portion of the series with Quinnipiac, 12-2, the Broncs have fallen to the Bobcats in 13 of the next 15, including three games last season. Quinnipiac defeated the Broncs, 72-58, in their lone matchup last season despite 20 points and nine rebounds by AB Coulibaly.
 
Fairfield **Metro Games**
Friday, Jan. 1 * Canastra Hammer Arena
Friday, Jan. 22 * Fairfield, CT

Series History: Fairfield leads, 42-36
Winning Streak: Fairfield, 5
Last Meeting: Fairfield, 68-62 (Jan. 9, 2026; Fairfield, CT)
2025-26 Record: 21-13 (11-9 MAAC)
Quickly: Fairfield has had the Broncs' number of late, winning the last five meetings. Rider led 60-59 with just over four minutes remaining in the only game against the Stags in 2025-26, but an 8-0 Fairfield run would be the difference in the contest. 
 
Saint Peter's **Metro Games**
Sunday, Jan. 3 * Jersey City, NJ
Sunday, Jan. 24 * Canastra Hammer Arena

Series History: Rider leads, 46-38
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 81-78 (Feb. 1, 2026; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2025-26 Record: 17-12 (14-6 MAAC)
Quickly: Rider and Saint Peter's split a pair of meetings last season, with each team taking a win on its home court. After falling at Saint Peter's, The Broncs used an SportsCenter Top 10 play with a Jamir McNeil ¾-court halftime buzzer beating shot, a late 10-0 run, capped by a Flash Burton three, and another Burton three with 1.9 seconds to play to defeat the Peacocks 81-78 to defend home court.
 
Mount St. Mary's **Metro Games**
Friday, Jan. 8 * Canastra Hammer Arena
Thursday, Feb. 11 * Emmitsburg, MD

Series History: Rider leads, 17-16
Winning Streak: Mount St. Mary's, 3
Last Meeting: Mount St. Mary's, 65-55 (Feb. 13, 2026; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2025-26 Record: 15-17 (11-9 MAAC)
Quickly: Mount St. Mary's swept the season series over the Broncs in 2025-26, winning both games by an identical 10-point margin. In the game in Lawrenceville, Rider got a career-high 22 points from Zion Cruz, but Rider shot just 14.3% from behind the arc in the setback.
 
Iona **Metro Game**
Wednesday, Jan. 13 * New Rochelle, NY

Series History: Iona leads, 49-31
Winning Streak: Iona, 1
Last Meeting: Iona, 80-58 (Feb. 27, 2026; New Rochelle, NY)
2025-26 Record: 18-14 (10-10 MAAC)
Quickly: Rider and Iona split last season's regular-season series, with each team winning at home. The Broncs jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead before Iona came back to tie the game 62-62 with just over four minutes to play, and took the lead briefly before Shemani Fuller gave the Broncs the lead for good with a baby hook with 1:53 to play.
 
Manhattan **Metro Games**
Saturday, Jan. 16 * Riverdale, NY
Saturday, Feb. 13 * Canastra Hammer Arena

Series History: Rider leads, 39-29
Winning Streak: Manhattan, 3
Last Meeting: Manhattan, 95-90 (Jan. 30, 2026; Riverdale, NY)
2025-26 Record: 12-20 (8-12 MAAC)
Quickly: Manhattan swept the season series a year ago in a pair of tight games, topping the Broncs 74-71 in Lawrenceville before falling 95-90 in Riverdale. Six Broncs scored in double figures in the road contest.
 
Marist **Metro Games**
Monday, Jan. 18 * Canastra Hammer Arena
Sunday, Feb. 21 * Poughkeepsie, NY

Series History: Rider leads, 43-30
Winning Streak: Marist, 2
Last Meeting: Marist, 81-52 (Feb. 5, 2026; Poughkeepsie, NY)
2025-26 Record: 19-12 (12-8 MAAC)
Quickly: Marist won both meetings convincingly last season, winning both games between the programs by over 20 points.   
 
Sacred Heart **Metro Game**
Friday, Jan. 29 * Canastra Hammer Arena

Series History: Sacred Heart leads, 3-2
Winning Streak: Sacred Heart, 3
Last Meeting: Sacred Heart, 86-75 (Feb. 15, 2026; Fairfield, CT)
2025-26 Record: 14-19 (9-11 MAAC)
Quickly: Rider fell in both meetings against the Pioneers last season despite averaging 80 points across the two games. Flash Burton scored 21 and AB Coulibaly had 17 to lead four Broncs in double figures in the home contest.
 
Merrimack **Metro Game**
Sunday, Feb. 7 * Canastra Hammer Arena

Series History: Merrimack leads, 3-1
Winning Streak: Merrimack, 2
Last Meeting: Merrimack, 73-47 (Feb. 7, 2026; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2025-26 Record: 23-11 (17-3 MAAC)
Quickly: The reigning regular season conference champions, the Warriors defeated the Broncs twice last season. The Broncs had an opportunity to steal the game in North Andover, trailing by two with three seconds to play, but the Rider inbounds pass hit the rafters for a turnover and Rider's later desperation heave did not fall.
 
Siena **Metro Game**
Friday, Feb. 19 * Albany, NY

Series History: Siena leads, 41-23
Winning Streak: Siena, 2
Last Meeting: Siena, 76-61 (Mar. 1, 2026; Albany, NY)
2025-26 Record: 23-12 (13-7 MAAC)
Quickly: The MAAC Tournament Champions a season ago, Siena won three games as the number three seed to win the MAAC Championship before pushing Duke to the brink in the NCAA Tournament. Siena swept the Broncs in the regular season last year, despite 20 points from Zion Cruz and 17 from Flash Burton in the home contest.