Marist Basketball Teams to Participate in Inaugural AE-Metro Challenge

Marist University is set to engage in the first-ever America East-Metro Basketball Challenge this November, a collaborative event showcasing nine institutions from each conference. This marks the beginning of a two-year partnership that was announced last July.

The Marist men's team will kick off their participation by hosting the America East's regular-season and postseason champion, Maryland-Baltimore County, on Thursday, November 5. Following that, they will travel to Massachusetts Lowell on Sunday, November 8. Historically, Marist has a favorable record against UMBC, winning both encounters, with their last victory occurring in November 2023. Against UMass Lowell, they hold a split record of 1-1, with their last loss coming in November 2017.

On the women's side, the Red Foxes will face Bryant on November 5 before welcoming the New Jersey Institute of Technology on November 8. Marist previously lost to Bryant 66-56 on November 11, 2025, and they have not yet played against NJIT.

The event will feature participation from all nine America East schools, alongside the former Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which is scheduled to rebrand as the Metro Conference on July 1. Within the MAAC, eight teams will contribute only one gendered team to the challenge, including the women's teams from Canisius, Mount Saint Mary's, Niagara, and Siena, as well as the men's teams from Iona, Rider, Sacred Heart, and Saint Peter's.

Last season, the Vermont women (27-8) and Maryland-Baltimore County men (24-9) secured the America East's regular-season and tournament titles. The Quinnipiac women (27-7) and Merrimack men (23-11) clinched the MAAC's regular-season championships, while Fairfield's women and Siena's men triumphed in the postseason tournaments. Game times will be announced later, with ESPN expected to stream many of the matchups on ESPN Plus.

Several local connections are expected to enhance the event's appeal. Former Marist player Maureen Magarity has returned to coaching at New Hampshire after a stint at Holy Cross. Additionally, Warwick graduate Paige Girardi is poised to be a senior guard for the Quinnipiac women, and Poughkeepsie's Noah Barnett will play as a forward for Vermont. Jason Schofield, meanwhile, is a center for Marist, while former Army women's coach Missy Traversi has taken the helm at Merrimack.