NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Iona University men's basketball has announced its 2025-26 non-conference schedule, a challenging slate that features traditional rivalries, marquee road tests, a return to paradise, and a highly anticipated showdown at the World's Most Famous Arena.
 
"Our non-conference schedule reflects the type of program we are building at Iona, one that seeks out strong competition and thrives in big moments," said first-year head coach Dan Geriot. "From hosting traditional rivals like Hofstra and Fordham to challenging ourselves on the road and in tournament play, every game is designed to push us and prepare us for the heart of the MAAC schedule and the tournament in Atlantic City. We are especially excited to be back at Madison Square Garden, it is a dream for our players and a showcase for our fans."

SECURE YOUR SEASON TICKETS TODAY!

Season tickets for Iona men's and women's basketball are on sale now! Renew by September 1, 2025, to secure your season ticketholder appreciation gift that will be mailed directly to you by mid-September! Season tickets are available for both new buyers and renewals now at IonaTickets.com. For more information, contact the Iona University Athletics ticket office at tickets@iona.edu or (914) 633-2491. Don't miss your chance to be part of another exciting season of Iona basketball! Ticket information, policies, and answers to FAQs can be found here.

THE SLATE

The Gaels tip off the season at home on Friday, November 7, when they welcome Hofstra to the Hynes Center. This marks the sixth straight year the two programs have met, with Hofstra taking a 23-22 all-time series lead following wins in each of the last three seasons. The series is scheduled to continue on Long Island in 2026.
 
The Maroon & Gold then head to the Midwest for their first road contest on Tuesday, November 11, taking on Kansas City in the first-ever meeting between the programs. The matchup begins a home-and-home series that will bring the Kangaroos to New Rochelle in 2026.
 
Back at Hynes, Iona renews a historic rivalry with Fordham on Friday, November 14, meeting for the 63rd time and the first since 2006, a 19-year gap. The game also commences a home-and-home series with the Rams, with a return trip to Rose Hill slated for 2026.
 
Princeton visits New Rochelle on Tuesday, November 18, in a matchup that completes a home-and-home series. The Tigers lead the all-time series 9-1, having edged the Gaels on a last-second shot in last year's season opener in New Jersey. Iona earned its lone win in the series during a neutral-site contest at Kean University in 2022.
 
The Gaels then travel to the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, from November 21–24. This marks Iona's third appearance in the event, having gone 2-4 in previous showings (2008, 2012), with wins over Wake Forest and Valparaiso and several tightly contested losses, including overtime heartbreakers vs. Wisconsin and Quinnipiac.
 
The Maroon & Gold open the Paradise Jam against Akron on Friday, November 21. Iona is seeking its first win over the Zips in six tries, most recently falling in the 2015 South Point Holiday Hoops Classic. Depending on results, Iona will face either Evansville or Oregon State on Saturday or Sunday, both of which handed the Gaels losses in their only prior meetings (Evansville in 1996, Oregon State in 2015).
 
The final day of the tournament on Monday, November 24, features potential matchups against Charleston (0-1, last met in 2023), Green Bay (first meeting), UMass (3-11, last met in 2014), or Yale (2-1, last met in 2021 at Barclays Center).
 
After returning stateside, Iona visits Delaware on Monday, December 1, completing a home-and-home series that began in New Rochelle last season. The Gaels hold a 6-2 lead in the series, though the Blue Hens claimed the most recent matchup.
 
Iona briefly pauses non-league action for MAAC games on Friday, December 5 and Sunday, December 7, with opponents and locations to be announced later.
 
The Gaels host Bryant on Wednesday, December 10, in the first-ever meeting at the Hynes Center. The Bulldogs won the only previous matchup between the schools to open the 2010-11 season in Cleveland. This is the first of a two-game set, with Iona visiting Bryant in 2026.
 
The schedule then brings the Gaels to the World's Most Famous Arena, as they take on St. John's at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, December 13. The game marks another high-profile opportunity for the Gaels under Geriot.
 
St. John's holds a 7-3 advantage in the all-time series and is 1-1 against Iona at Madison Square Garden. The Gaels defeated the Red Storm at the 1995 ECAC Holiday Festival, while the Johnnies claimed the most recent meeting in December 2017. The matchup features a projected Top 10 opponent and two of the most tradition-rich programs in the New York metropolitan area meeting on one of college basketball's grandest stages.
 
The final non-league contest takes Iona to Vermont on Saturday, December 20, wrapping up a home-and-home series that began with a Gaels win in New Rochelle last season. The teams have agreed to extend the series, with additional games slated for 2026 (home) and 2027 (away). Iona holds a 7-3 all-time series lead over the Catamounts.
 
The Gaels close out the calendar year with a third MAAC matchup on Monday, December 29, as they prepare for full league play in January.
 
Game times and broadcast information for several contests remain tentative and will be finalized closer to the start of the season.
 
For the latest updates, visit IonaGaels.com and follow @IonaGaelsMBB on social media.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Be sure to follow Iona University athletics on all social media platforms:
Iona Athletics: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Men's Basketball: Twitter, Facebook. Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)

Tweet #GaelNation
Tweet #MAACHoops

Follow @IonaGaelsMBB
Follow @IonaGaels