Troy University Athletics
Initial Matchups for 2025-26 MAC-SBC Challenge Revealed
7/1/2025 11:00:00 AM | Basketball (M), Basketball (W)
TROY, Ala. – The start to the 2025-26 Troy basketball season officially begins on Monday, November 3, with the third year of the MAC-SBC Challenge, the league offices announced Tuesday morning.
Troy men's basketball opens its chance at defending the conference throne when the team travels to Kent State. Meanwhile, the women's team picks up from a WNIT runner-up finish with the home opener in Trojan Arena against Toledo.
Last season, the Trojans combined to finish 1-3 in the MAC-SBC Challenge, while the MAC won year three of four in the challenge, 27-21.
Troy Men's Basketball at Kent State – Memorial Athletic & Convocation Center
For the second time in the last three seasons, the men's team will travel to Ohio to take on Kent State. Troy won the previous matchup at Trojan Arena as part of the inaugural MAC-SBC Challenge during the 2023–24 campaign. The Golden Flashes are coming off an impressive 24–12 season, finishing third in the MAC with an 11–7 conference record.
"We're fired up to get the season started," head men's basketball coach Scott Cross said. "We know that Kent State has traditionally been one of the strongest programs in the MAC, so this will be a very tough game. However, we want to win a Sun Belt Championship, and to do that, we will have to win tough games on the road, just like this game against Kent State. We are looking forward to the challenge of competing against one of the best teams in the MAC."
Cross's team is coming off a standout 2024–25 campaign that culminated in an NCAA Tournament appearance – the program's first since 2017. The Trojans posted a 23–11 overall record and finished 13–5 in Sun Belt play, earning a share of the regular-season title before going on to win the Sun Belt Tournament for the third time in school history. Returners from the history-making squad are highlighted by Thomas Dowd, who led last year's team in rebounding and was the third-leading scorer.
Troy Women's Basketball vs. Toledo – Trojan Arena
While it wasn't in the MAC-SBC Challenge, the women's program faced Toledo in 2024-25 at the 2024 Cherokee Tournament. Despite losing to the eventual tournament champions 70-62, the team saw Ashley Baez drop 16 points with six rebounds, three assists and a steal to boost. Toledo went on to finish runner-up in the MAC Tournament, earning a bid to the WBIT with a 24-9, 13-5 MAC record – the Rockets fell to Minnesota 65-53 in the first round.
"Playing Toledo over the past few years has proven challenging for us," head women's basketball coach Chanda Rigby said. "We really want to begin with a win and earn this opening day victory. I hope all Trojans will mark their calendars to be in Trojan Arena and help us gain a home court advantage."
Fresh off their WNIT championship game run, the Trojans bring back five players in Baez, Leilani Guion, Fortuna Ngnawo, Zay Dyer and Emani Jenkins. Dyer returns as the single-season record holder for rebounds (395), earning All-Sun Belt First Team, WNIT All-Tournament Team, back-to-back SBC Player of the Week and Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team nods as the league leader in rebounding (10.4) and double-doubles (18).
Troy men's basketball opens its chance at defending the conference throne when the team travels to Kent State. Meanwhile, the women's team picks up from a WNIT runner-up finish with the home opener in Trojan Arena against Toledo.
Last season, the Trojans combined to finish 1-3 in the MAC-SBC Challenge, while the MAC won year three of four in the challenge, 27-21.
Troy Men's Basketball at Kent State – Memorial Athletic & Convocation Center
For the second time in the last three seasons, the men's team will travel to Ohio to take on Kent State. Troy won the previous matchup at Trojan Arena as part of the inaugural MAC-SBC Challenge during the 2023–24 campaign. The Golden Flashes are coming off an impressive 24–12 season, finishing third in the MAC with an 11–7 conference record.
"We're fired up to get the season started," head men's basketball coach Scott Cross said. "We know that Kent State has traditionally been one of the strongest programs in the MAC, so this will be a very tough game. However, we want to win a Sun Belt Championship, and to do that, we will have to win tough games on the road, just like this game against Kent State. We are looking forward to the challenge of competing against one of the best teams in the MAC."
Cross's team is coming off a standout 2024–25 campaign that culminated in an NCAA Tournament appearance – the program's first since 2017. The Trojans posted a 23–11 overall record and finished 13–5 in Sun Belt play, earning a share of the regular-season title before going on to win the Sun Belt Tournament for the third time in school history. Returners from the history-making squad are highlighted by Thomas Dowd, who led last year's team in rebounding and was the third-leading scorer.
Troy Women's Basketball vs. Toledo – Trojan Arena
While it wasn't in the MAC-SBC Challenge, the women's program faced Toledo in 2024-25 at the 2024 Cherokee Tournament. Despite losing to the eventual tournament champions 70-62, the team saw Ashley Baez drop 16 points with six rebounds, three assists and a steal to boost. Toledo went on to finish runner-up in the MAC Tournament, earning a bid to the WBIT with a 24-9, 13-5 MAC record – the Rockets fell to Minnesota 65-53 in the first round.
"Playing Toledo over the past few years has proven challenging for us," head women's basketball coach Chanda Rigby said. "We really want to begin with a win and earn this opening day victory. I hope all Trojans will mark their calendars to be in Trojan Arena and help us gain a home court advantage."
Fresh off their WNIT championship game run, the Trojans bring back five players in Baez, Leilani Guion, Fortuna Ngnawo, Zay Dyer and Emani Jenkins. Dyer returns as the single-season record holder for rebounds (395), earning All-Sun Belt First Team, WNIT All-Tournament Team, back-to-back SBC Player of the Week and Great Alaska Shootout All-Tournament Team nods as the league leader in rebounding (10.4) and double-doubles (18).
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