Preview: Sacred Heart Faces Iona in MAAC Men’s Basketball Championship

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Interstat) — The Iona Gaels and Sacred Heart Pioneers will meet with a season on the line Thursday in the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship.

The seed Gaels (18-13) enter as favorites against the seed Pioneers (13-18) in a quarterfinal matchup at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. Iona won the regular-season meeting 81-69 on Dec. 7.

Iona, led by guard CJ Anthony, closed the regular season with consecutive wins over Rider and Manhattan. Anthony averaged 13 points and 5.1 assists per game, including a 16-point, 6-assist performance in Sunday’s 69-65 victory at Manhattan. The Gaels’ offense runs through his playmaking, but they have shown vulnerability, dropping three of their final six contests, including a double-overtime loss at Merrimack.

Sacred Heart, which advanced to this round with a 77-69 win over Mount Saint Mary’s on Feb. 27, relies on forward Yann Farell. Farell scored 17 points in that victory and has been a consistent scorer, posting 25 points in a Feb. 5 loss to Fairfield. However, the Pioneers have struggled for consistency, finishing the regular season with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games.

The matchup pits Iona’s more balanced record and earlier dominance against Sacred Heart’s tournament desperation. The Gaels will look to control tempo with Anthony directing an offense that put up 80 points in two of its final three games. The Pioneers must find secondary scoring behind Farell to keep pace.

The winner will advance to the MAAC semifinals on Friday. Iona seeks to continue its pursuit of an automatic NCAA Tournament bid, while Sacred Heart aims to extend an unexpected postseason run.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT.