- Matchup: Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs Central Arkansas Bears
- Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Venue: Farris Center in Conway, AR
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The Central Arkansas Bears (11-10) will face off against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels (7-15) at the Farris Center on Saturday.
In their previous match, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels were up against Austin Peay, suffering a defeat with a final score of 90-82. The Colonels shot 34.7% from the field, making 25 of 72 attempts, and connected on 8 of 30 from three-point range. At the charity stripe, they excelled, hitting 24 out of 27 free throws for an impressive 88.9%. In terms of rebounding, they accumulated a total of 34, including 18 offensive boards. The team also delivered 12 assists while forcing their opponents into 16 turnovers, resulting in 10 steals. Defensively, Eastern Kentucky allowed their rivals to shoot 53.3% from the floor, with Austin Peay finishing with 24 baskets from 45 attempts. Additionally, Austin Peay recorded 17 assists and 4 steals in this encounter, while grabbing 30 rebounds (5 offensive, 25 defensive) without any blocks. They were solid at the free-throw line as well, converting 35 of 38 attempts for a 92.1% success rate. From beyond the arc, they managed to make 7 of 15 shots. Notably, both teams accumulated 22 fouls throughout the game.
Tyler Jackson was a key player in this matchup, achieving a shooting percentage of 50.0% from the field while providing 1 assist. He played for 22 minutes, grabbed 1 rebound, and contributed 19 points with 6 of 12 shooting.
Eastern Kentucky enters this game with a record of 7-15 this season. They average 12.0 turnovers per game and incur 18.4 fouls each match. The team secures about 36.5 rebounds per outing and has amassed 312 assists this season, ranking 134th in Division I basketball in assists. The Colonels are making 35.1% of their attempts from beyond the arc (248 of 706) and 72.2% from the free-throw line. Their scoring average stands at 80.2 points per game, placing them 105th nationally, with a field goal percentage of 43.4%.
On the defensive end, the Colonels force 12.2 turnovers each matchup and cause 17.0 fouls per game. They currently rank 296th in Division I for assists allowed, having surrendered 318 assists this year. The defensive team allows an opponent field goal percentage of 47.8% (617 out of 1,291) and collects an average of 35.6 rebounds per game, while yielding 34.6% on three-point shots. Furthermore, they are positioned 328th in Division I for points allowed per game (80.4).
In their recent encounter, the Central Arkansas Bears emerged victorious with a score of 100-90 against Queens. The Bears secured 23 defensive rebounds and 6 offensive boards, totaling 29 for the game. They turned the ball over 9 times but managed to get 9 steals. Queens committed 27 fouls, allowing the Bears 34 free-throw attempts, of which they converted 28 for an 82.4% success rate. The Bears excelled from beyond the arc, making 12 of 27 shots (44.4%). In terms of overall shooting, Central Arkansas finished with 30 field goals out of 55 attempts, reaching a percentage of 54.5%. Queens shot 50.0%, making 29 out of 58 attempts. The Bears also allowed Queens some success from three-point range, where they allowed a shooting percentage of 44.7% (17 of 38), and they completed 15 of 21 free throws (71.4%). Defensively, they permitted Queens a total of 24 rebounds (4 offensive).
Camren Hunter proved impactful in this contest, scoring 31 points during his 31 minutes on the court and registering 1 assist. He made 12 of 18 attempts, which reflects a field goal percentage of 66.7%, though he did not contribute any rebounds.
Central Arkansas holds a record of 11-10 this season, averaging 16.1 personal fouls per game and shooting 69.7% from the free-throw line. They facilitate 16.5 assists per game (57th in the nation) while turning the ball over 11.5 times per matchup. The Bears have tallied 1,669 points this season (79.5 per game) and secure 37.0 rebounds per game. Their offensive shooting percentage stands at 45.0%, ranked 202nd in college basketball.
Defensively, the Bears rank 209th nationally in points allowed per game at 74.6. They force 13.6 turnovers on average and allow teams to shoot 44.0% from the field (193rd in college). Opponents are shooting 32.8% from beyond the 3-point line (222 of 677) and making 72.9% of their free throws. Furthermore, the Bears allow 15.6 assists and 35.1 total rebounds per game, placing them 317th and 216th in those respective categories.
Who will be victorious in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Pick: Back Eastern Kentucky
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