Eastern Kentucky Rolls Past Stetson 100-88 Behind Strong Performances

Eastern Kentucky dominated Stetson 100-88 at Baptist Health Arena, with Juan Cranford Jr. leading the charge for the Colonels. Cranford Jr. scored 23 points, matching Stetson's Ethan Copeland for the game high. The Colonels' victory was fueled by a strong second half, where they outscored the Hatters 52-40. MJ Williams and Montavious Myrick also had notable performances for Eastern Kentucky, with Williams contributing 22 points and 7 assists, and Myrick adding 19 points and 6 rebounds.

The game was closely contested in the first half, with Eastern Kentucky taking a 48-48 tie into the break. However, the Colonels pulled away in the second half, thanks in part to their balanced attack. Eastern Kentucky's ability to score from multiple positions proved too much for Stetson to handle, as the Hatters struggled to keep pace. Daniel Macgregor and Collin Kuhl supported Copeland's efforts for Stetson, scoring 19 and 16 points, respectively.

CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Eastern Kentucky winning by 9.7 points, and the Colonels exceeded that margin with their 12-point victory. The predicted score of 82-72 was also close, but both teams surpassed their projected point totals in the high-scoring affair. The accuracy of the prediction is a reflection of the Colonels' expected dominance in this matchup.

The win improves Eastern Kentucky's record to 9-16, while Stetson falls to 8-17. As both teams are outside the top 200 in net ranking, this game was considered a Quad 4 matchup for both squads. The result will have minimal impact on their respective tournament resumes, but it does give Eastern Kentucky a much-needed conference win.

Eastern Kentucky's performance demonstrates their potential to compete against similar opponents, and they want to build on this momentum in their upcoming games. While the victory may not significantly boost their tournament chances, it is a step in the right direction for a team seeking to finish the season strong. For Stetson, the loss is a setback, but they will aim to regroup and secure crucial wins in their remaining conference matchups.