CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | 2026 CNE MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMNET BRACKET
BEVERLY, Mass. – Suffolk men's basketball's quest for a Conference of New England title will go through the third seed as the Rams locked up the position in the six-team field for the second straight season.
The Rams compiled a 15-10 overall and 10-5 league ledger to finish third, which ties the program's highest finish in the CNE, after achieving a feat a year ago. The third-place finish is the third-ever in the blue-and-gold's record books. Suffolk is 3-2 when competing in a league's postseason as the third seed, including a 2-1 mark a year ago.
The tournament trip marks Suffolk's fifth in the CNE postseason, 21st overall and 13th straight.
Over its 20 conference tournament appearances, Suffolk has advanced to the semifinals seven times and gone onto the championship contest on three occasions, including the last two seasons. In the CNE Tournament, Suffolk holds a 5-4 record with a pair of conference championship trips and three semifinal showings.
As the third seed, Suffolk picked up hosting rights of the first round and will welcome the University of New England to Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court Tuesday, Feb. 24 for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off. It'll be the second consecutive campaign that the Rams host a postseason contest. The Rams sport a 3-0 CNE postseason record as the home team in the CNE playoffs.
UNE secured the sixth and final spot in the league tournament behind a 7-18 overall record and 5-13 league record.
In the regular-season, Suffolk swept the two-game series with the Nor'Easters. The Rams snuck by UNE, 75-69, in Biddeford, Maine, Jan. 6, and put together a convincing 84-55 triumph in Boston Feb. 14.
Historically, the Rams lead the all-time series 19-12 with four straight wins. In Boston, Suffolk is 9-6 against UNE and holds an 8-2 ledger in the series under Jeff Juron's guidance.
The foes will face off in the postseason for the first time.
The winner of the Beantown battle moves onto the semifinals Thursday, Feb. 26 at second seed Western New England.
On the other side of the bracket, fourth seed Nichols will entertain fifth seed Roger Williams Tuesday night. Top-seeded Endicott, who sits 14th in the latest D3hoops.com national poll, awaits the victor of that first round showdown.
Both semifinal winners are scheduled to meet in the 2026 CNE Championship Saturday, Feb. 28 at the highest remaining seed. The league's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament is on the line.
2026 CNE MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
First Round – Tuesday, Feb. 24
Game 1: No. 5 Roger Williams at No. 4 Nichols – 7:00 p.m.
Game 2: No. 6 University of New England at No. 3 Suffolk – 6:00 p.m.
Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 26
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 at No. 1 Endicott – 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: Winner of Game 2 at No. 2 Western New England – 7:00 p.m.
Championship – Saturday, Feb. 28
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 3 – at Highest Remaining Seed