North Alabama Tops Eastern Kentucky in Overtime Thriller
Sunday, February 15, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall
North Alabama Lions 84, Eastern Kentucky Colonels 78, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs North Alabama Lions?
North Alabama Lions beat Eastern Kentucky Colonels 84-78 at CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall on February 15, 2026.
Who was favored in Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs North Alabama Lions?
Eastern Kentucky Colonels were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -198 (about 66% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling overtime matchup, the North Alabama Lions emerged victorious against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, finishing the game with a score of 84-78. This victory marked a significant moment for North Alabama, who had been struggling with a recent record of 2-8 in their last ten games, including a four-game losing streak leading up to this contest. The Lions had averaged 69.5 points scored and allowed 81.9 points during this stretch, indicating defensive challenges that they managed to overcome in this game.
The Lions played at home in the CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall, where they had a home record of 8-17 for the season. Although they had lost their last four home games, North Alabama capitalized on the opportunity to turn their fortunes around, showcasing resilience against an Eastern Kentucky team that had a record of 9-18 overall. The Colonels entered the game with a recent record of 4-6 in their last ten games, but they were also coming off a loss, which extended their current losing streak to one game. Eastern Kentucky had averaged 80.1 points scored and allowed 80.3 points during their last ten games, reflecting a more balanced offensive and defensive performance compared to their hosts.
In their previous meetings, North Alabama and Eastern Kentucky had split their two encounters, with North Alabama winning 88-67 at home in January 2025 and Eastern Kentucky triumphing 88-80 in January 2026. This history added an intriguing layer to their latest clash, as both teams sought to assert dominance in this rivalry.
The game was competitive throughout, with both teams exchanging leads and battling fiercely. The scoring plays in overtime were pivotal, with Kevin de Kovachich making crucial free throws that ultimately helped seal the victory for the Lions. His contributions were vital, as North Alabama managed to outscore Eastern Kentucky 6-0 in the final moments of the overtime period.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but the overall health of both teams can often impact performance in such tightly contested games. The market had priced Eastern Kentucky as favorites, with DraftKings offering a spread of 4.5 points in favor of the Colonels, indicating expectations of a close matchup. The total for the game was set at 150.5, reflecting anticipated scoring from both sides.
Conditions in the arena were conducive to an exciting game, with fans likely contributing to the atmosphere in a must-win situation for North Alabama. Viewers were treated to an intense showdown that showcased the determination of both teams to secure a victory, with North Alabama ultimately prevailing in a hard-fought battle.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | EKU -4.5 | 150.5 o -108 / u -112 | Eastern Kentucky Colonels -198 · North Alabama Lions +164 |
Leaders
- PointsDonte Bacchus21North Alabama Lions
- AssistsKevin de Kovachich5North Alabama Lions
- ReboundsCorneilous Williams15North Alabama Lions
- PointsJalen Cooper16Eastern Kentucky Colonels
- AssistsMJ Williams4Eastern Kentucky Colonels
- ReboundsJalen Cooper10Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Recent form
North Alabama Lions
Last 10: 2-8Streak L469.5 scored · 81.9 allowed per game0-4 at home
- L73-82vs West Georgia WolvesFeb 12
- L65-72vs Central Arkansas BearsFeb 10
- L62-91at Austin Peay GovernorsFeb 7
- L60-81at Central Arkansas BearsFeb 5
- W68-66at Stetson HattersJan 31
- L64-72at Florida Gulf Coast EaglesJan 30
- L62-87at Queens University RoyalsJan 22
- L68-90vs Jacksonville DolphinsJan 17
- L91-105vs North Florida OspreysJan 16
- W82-73at Bellarmine KnightsJan 10
Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Last 10: 4-6Streak L180.1 scored · 80.3 allowed per game0-5 away
- L61-75at Lipscomb BisonsFeb 12
- W100-88vs Stetson HattersFeb 7
- W76-74vs Florida Gulf Coast EaglesFeb 6
- L81-90at Central Arkansas BearsJan 31
- L82-90vs Austin Peay GovernorsJan 29
- L76-81at Jacksonville DolphinsJan 24
- L85-87at North Florida OspreysJan 23
- W89-69vs Bellarmine KnightsJan 18
- L72-74at Austin Peay GovernorsJan 16
- W79-75vs Central Arkansas BearsJan 10
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Valley | 25-9 | - | 14-4 |
| California Baptist | 25-9 | 1 | 13-5 |
| Utah Tech | 19-15 | 2 | 11-7 |
| UT Arlington | 18-14 | 5 | 9-9 |
| Southern Utah | 10-22 | 7 | 6-12 |
| Tarleton State | 14-18 | 9 | 5-13 |
| Abilene Christian | 14-19 | 9 | 5-13 |
Box score
| Stat | Eastern Kentucky Colonels | North Alabama Lions |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-70 | 23-50 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 7-35 | 7-20 |
| Three-point % | 20 | 35 |
| Free throws | 15-26 | 31-46 |
| Free throw % | 58 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 49 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | 35 |
| Assists | 11 | 10 |
| Steals | 9 | 4 |
| Blocks | 1 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 20 | 10 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 26 |
| Fouls | 28 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 16 | 16 |
| Time in front | 49 | 39 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half58-53Donte Bacchus makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-54Donte Bacchus makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-54Montavious Myrick makes layup
- 2nd Half60-55Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-56Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-57Donte Bacchus makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-57Jackson Holt makes 9-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half62-58Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-59Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-59Montavious Myrick makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-59Montavious Myrick makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-62Cortez Graham-Howard makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half65-62Jalen Cooper makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-64Corneilous Williams makes layup (Kevin de Kovachich assists)
- 2nd Half66-64Montavious Myrick makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-65Donte Bacchus makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-68Kevin de Kovachich makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dallas Howell assists)
- 2nd Half66-69Cortez Graham-Howard makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-70Cortez Graham-Howard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-70Juan Cranford Jr. makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half68-70Juan Cranford Jr. makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half69-70Juan Cranford Jr. makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half69-71Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-71MJ Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-71MJ Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT71-72Donte Bacchus makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT74-72MJ Williams makes 24-foot three point jumper (Montavious Myrick assists)
- OT74-73Cortez Graham-Howard makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT74-74Dallas Howell makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT74-75Dallas Howell makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT76-75Juan Cranford Jr. makes layup
- OT76-77Cortez Graham-Howard makes 12-foot jumper
- OT76-78Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT76-79Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT78-79Juan Cranford Jr. makes layup
- OT78-80Donte Bacchus makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT78-81Donte Bacchus makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT78-82Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT78-83Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT78-84Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours North Alabama Lions, below favours Eastern Kentucky Colonels.
Venue
- CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers HallFlorence, AL
- Attendance2815
- OfficialsChris Ford, Hunter Allen, Chase Shaw
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond