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.
Pick: Eastern Kentucky -3.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
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.
Stetson Hatters
Eastern Kentucky Colonels
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 |
Score Projection: Stetson 82 – Eastern Kentucky 87 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Stetson 46%, Eastern Kentucky 54% ATS PRO
This ASUN Tournament matchup should be an entertaining offensive battle between two teams with similar records but slightly different resumes. Eastern Kentucky’s superior scoring and recent dominant win over Stetson give it a slight edge, while Stetson’s recent spread success and improved offensive rhythm mean they can't be counted out either. I'll lay the points with EKU, with the expectation that they go 2-0 against Stetson this year.
Affiliate DisclosureATS.io uses affiliate links. If you sign up through a link on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rankings are based on hands-on testing and published criteria, and affiliate relationships do not determine placement.