ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – The 3rd-seeded Siena Saints have emerged victorious in the 2026 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament, defeating the top-seeded Merrimack Warriors by a score of 64-54 in the championship game held on Tuesday, March 10th. This decisive win grants Siena not only their seventh league title but also the conference's automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Siena's path to victory saw them overcome a spirited Merrimack squad in the final, capping a week of single-elimination contests held at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The tournament, which ran from March 5th to March 10th, featured the top ten teams from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Tournament Trajectory and Key Matchups
The tournament bracket kicked off with first-round games on Thursday, March 5th. The #9 Sacred Heart Pioneers bested the #8 Iona Gaels with a 91-80 scoreline, while the #7 Fairfield Stags defeated the #10 Manhattan Jaspers 71-60.
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Quarterfinal action on Friday, March 6th, saw Merrimack assert its top-seed status, downing Sacred Heart 70-48, and Fairfield continued their run by upsetting #2 Saint Peter's 74-55. Saturday, March 7th, saw #5 Marist edge out #4 Quinnipiac 77-75 in a close contest, and Siena, as the #3 seed, progressed by defeating #6 Mount St. Mary's 63-58.
The semifinals on Sunday, March 8th, presented nail-biting finishes. Merrimack narrowly advanced past Marist 58-57, while Siena solidified their championship aspirations by defeating Fairfield 76-61.
Viewing and Player Performances
Broadcast details indicated that games were streamed exclusively on ESPN+ from the first round through the semifinals, with the championship game airing on ESPN2.
Notable player performances throughout the tournament included Kevair Kennedy of Merrimack, who led the conference in scoring during the regular season with 18.5 points per game. In the championship game itself, Siena's Gavin Doty delivered a standout performance, scoring 23 points, with 18 of those coming in the second half to seal the win. Other top scorers included Braden Sparks (Fairfield) and Anquan Hill (Sacred Heart), both averaging 17.6 and 17.5 points per game respectively. Rebounding leaders featured Brandon Benjamin of Fairfield with 10.2 rebounds per game.
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Contextual Background
The MAAC Tournament serves as a crucial prelude to the larger March Madness spectacle. Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament is set for March 15th, with the First Four tipping off on March 17th-18th in Dayton, Ohio. The Final Four is scheduled for April 4th-6th in Indianapolis, Indiana. The MAAC tournament's conclusion ensures one team's journey into this national collegiate basketball spotlight. The men's title game concluded on March 10th, with the women's championship scheduled separately on March 9th.
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