What Is 2006 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2006 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament was held from March 3–6, 2006, at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York. The winner, Manhattan College, earned an automatic bid to the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

Key Facts

The 2006 MAAC Tournament took place from March 3 to March 6, 2006
Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York hosted the event for the fifth consecutive year
Manhattan College won the championship with a 74–61 victory over Iona College
Manhattan entered the NCAA Tournament as a #15 seed but lost to UConn
The tournament featured 10 MAAC member teams competing in a single-elimination format

Overview

The 2006 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men's Basketball Tournament determined the conference's automatic qualifier for the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Held annually since 1982, the MAAC Tournament brings together the top teams from the conference in a single-elimination format to crown a champion.

This edition marked the 25th anniversary of the MAAC Tournament and continued the tradition of being hosted at a neutral site. The Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York, served as the venue for the fifth straight year, drawing strong attendance and regional media coverage.

March 3–6, 2006: The tournament spanned four days, beginning with first-round matchups and culminating in the championship game on March 6.
10 teams participated: All MAAC members at the time qualified, making it a rare full-conference tournament format.
Manhattan defeated Iona 74–61: The Jaspers won their first MAAC title since 1995, led by head coach Bryan Bailey.
Senior guard Marquis Anyansi scored 18 points: He was named Tournament MVP after leading Manhattan’s balanced scoring attack.
Albany hosted for the fifth consecutive year: The city’s central location and arena capacity made it a consistent choice for the conference.

How It Works

The MAAC Tournament follows a structured single-elimination format designed to reward regular-season performance while allowing lower-seeded teams a path to the NCAA Tournament. Seeding is based on conference win-loss records, with tiebreakers used as needed.

Term:Single-elimination bracket: Teams are seeded 1–10 based on conference records; once a team loses, they are eliminated from contention.
Seeding rules: The top six teams receive byes into the quarterfinals, while seeds 7–10 play in the first round to advance.
Championship game: Held on the final day, the winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament regardless of their national ranking.
Player of the Tournament: Selected based on performance; Marquis Anyansi earned the honor in 2006 after leading in scoring and rebounding.
Neutral site: The Pepsi Arena in Albany provided a centralized, fan-friendly location for all games, increasing attendance and excitement.
MAAC Network coverage: All games were broadcast regionally, with the final aired nationally on ESPN2.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2006 MAAC Tournament compared to prior years in structure, participation, and outcome. Below is a breakdown of key metrics:

Year	Champion	Runner-Up	Location	Championship Score
2002	Loyola (MD)	Iona	Albany, NY	64–57
2003	Manhattan	Canisius	Albany, NY	64–59
2004	Manhattan	Iona	Albany, NY	74–61
2005	Canisius	Niagara	Albany, NY	77–70
2006	Manhattan	Iona	Albany, NY	74–61

The 2006 tournament mirrored the 2004 final in both teams and score, highlighting the rivalry between Manhattan and Iona. The consistent use of Albany as a host city helped build tradition, while the return of Manhattan to the top after an 11-year drought underscored the competitive balance in the conference.

Why It Matters

The 2006 MAAC Tournament had lasting implications for the conference and its member schools, particularly Manhattan College. Winning the title not only brought national attention but also provided critical NCAA Tournament exposure.

Manhattan earned a #15 seed: They faced #2 seed Connecticut in the first round, losing 78–52, but gained valuable national TV experience.
Increased recruiting visibility: The tournament run boosted Manhattan’s profile, helping attract higher-caliber recruits in subsequent seasons.
Conference revenue sharing: The MAAC distributed NCAA Tournament revenue to all member schools, benefiting from Manhattan’s appearance.
Historic for Bryan Bailey: The win marked the pinnacle of his coaching career at Manhattan, who later left for other opportunities.
Revived the Manhattan-Iona rivalry: The back-to-back finals meetings intensified one of the MAAC’s most competitive matchups.
Set attendance records: Over 42,000 fans attended the tournament, the highest total since 1999, reflecting growing interest in mid-major basketball.

The 2006 MAAC Tournament remains a benchmark for mid-major conference championships, combining competitive balance, tradition, and national relevance in a single week of March basketball excitement.