STANDISH, Maine – The 2026-27 Saint Joseph’s College men’s basketball regular-season schedule has been announced. The Monks are slated to play 25 games this season, beginning at home against Clark University on Saturday, November 7, at 2:00 PM and concluding on Saturday, February 20, on the road against New England College.
2026-27 Schedule at a Glance
Tyler Ackley returns for his sixth season as head coach of the Monks. Saint Joseph’s will play 16 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contests and nine non-conference games. The Monks will host 12 games throughout the season while playing 11 road contests and two games at neutral sites.
Saint Joseph’s opens the season with six straight non-conference contests. The Monks will host Clark University (Nov. 7) and Husson University (Nov. 11) before traveling to face Trinity College (Nov. 16). Saint Joseph’s will then compete in the Great Lakes Invitational, where the Monks will face two opponents for the first time in program history: Marietta College (Nov. 20) and Illinois Wesleyan University (Nov. 21). The remainder of non-conference play includes contests against the University of Maine at Farmington (Nov. 24), the University of Southern Maine (Nov. 29), Colby College (Dec. 12), and Bates College (Dec. 30).
Conference & Postseason
Saint Joseph’s opens GNAC play on December 1 on the road against Colby-Sawyer College. The Monks’ home conference schedule includes Dean College (Dec. 5), Emmanuel College (Jan. 5), Rivier University (Jan. 13), Regis College (Jan. 16), Lasell University (Jan. 27), Elms College (Jan. 30), Colby-Sawyer College (Feb. 2), Norwich University (Feb. 6), and New England College (Feb. 10).
The 2027 GNAC Tournament begins with quarterfinal action on February 23 and continues with the semifinal and championship rounds on February 25 and 27, respectively. The tournament champion will earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament, which begins on March 5.
Looking Back
The Monks enter the 2026-27 season seeking a third consecutive GNAC championship after finishing last season with a 20-9 overall record and a perfect 12-0 mark in conference play. Saint Joseph’s defeated the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 92-58, in the GNAC Championship to claim its second straight conference title. The Monks advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament, where they fell to Babson College, 71-67, in the opening round.
Games to Watch
NOV. 16 • 7:00 PM National Champion
at Trinity College
The Monks travel to face the 2025 NCAA Division III champion and 2026 Final Four participant in the first meeting between the programs since 1979. Trinity earned a 68-66 victory in the only previous matchup, making this an early-season test against one of Division III’s premier programs.
NOV. 21 • 1:00 PM Great Lakes Invitational
vs. Illinois Wesleyan University
Saint Joseph’s will face Illinois Wesleyan for the first time in program history at the Great Lakes Invitational. The Titans advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Division III Tournament after finishing the season among the nation’s top programs.
FEB. 13 • 3:00 PM GNAC Championship Rematch
at University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)
The Monks face the Blue Jays in a rematch of the 2026 GNAC Championship. Saint Joseph’s won the title game, 92-58, and the late-season matchup could again carry significant implications for GNAC Tournament positioning.
