Wednesday’s 2026 ASUN Tournament opening round includes a compelling lower-seed matchup between the Eastern Kentucky Colonels and Stetson Hatters, two teams that finished the regular season with identical 11-20 records and 7-11 marks in conference play. Both squads will be looking to extend their seasons in Jacksonville, as they battle in the first round with their seasons on the line. Here, I break down this contest and give you my Stetson vs Eastern Kentucky prediction in the betting markets.
Our Stetson vs Eastern Kentucky Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Stetson Hatters @ Eastern Kentucky Colonels
- Date & Time: Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 5:00 PM ET
- Venue: UNF Arena, Jacksonville, Florida
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
The ASUN Tournament always brings unpredictable outcomes, and this game could be no exception. Stetson lost its last meeting with EKU earlier this season by a 100-88 margin in the most recent head-to-head between these programs. Both teams struggled to find consistency throughout the season, but their offensive firepower and tendency to play up or down to their opponent’s level should make for an entertaining battle.
Key Players
Stetson Hatters
- Top Scorer – Ethan Copeland: Leading Stetson’s offense at around 14.5 points per game while shooting near 45% from the field and sinking free throws at a solid clip, Copeland provides the scoring Stetson needs to keep pace.
- Rebound Leader – Collin Kuhl: Contributes around 6.4 rebounds per contest and can help Stetson gain critical extra possessions.
- Playmaker – Calvin Sirmans III: Brings nearly 5 assists per game and has the ball skills to generate quality looks for his teammates.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels
- Balanced Scoring – Juan Cranford Jr.: Eastern Kentucky’s top scorer with around 12.3 points per game and capable of hitting timely shots to swing momentum.
- Board Presence – Montavious Myrick: One of the Colonels’ best rebounders, pulling down around 7.0 rebounds per game to secure possessions.
- Facilitator – MJ Williams: Adds around 4.1 assists and provides steady guard play that helps Eastern Kentucky manage offensive sets.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | Stetson | Eastern Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 73.5 | 80.4 |
| Points allowed per game | 80.2 | 81.5 |
| Team Field Goal % | 45% | 44% |
| Rebounds per Game | 33.0 | 36.3 |
| Assists per Game | 15.3 | 14.7 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- EKU won the first matchup between these teams this season, though that was at home and this game is being played at a neutral site.
- Eastern Kentucky is 10-18-1 against the spread this season.
- Stetson is 16-13 against the spread going into the ASUN Tournament.
Stetson vs Eastern Kentucky Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
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