Colonels Edge Wolves in Overtime Thriller
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Baptist Health Arena
Eastern Kentucky Colonels 81, West Georgia Wolves 80, 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 West Georgia Wolves vs Eastern Kentucky Colonels?
Eastern Kentucky Colonels beat West Georgia Wolves 81-80 at Baptist Health Arena on February 18, 2026.
Who was favored in West Georgia Wolves vs Eastern Kentucky Colonels?
Eastern Kentucky Colonels were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -298 (about 75% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling overtime contest, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels narrowly defeated the West Georgia Wolves with a final score of 81-80. The game, held at the Baptist Health Arena, showcased a tightly contested battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Both teams entered the matchup with similar records; Eastern Kentucky held a home record of 10-18, while West Georgia had a slightly better away record of 12-15. The Colonels had struggled recently, posting a 3-7 record in their last ten games, with an average of 80.0 points scored but allowing 81.2 points per game. Their last two games resulted in losses, including a recent defeat against the North Alabama Lions, where they lost 78-84. In contrast, the Wolves also recorded a 3-7 mark in their last ten outings, averaging 75.3 points scored and 80.1 points allowed. They were coming off a loss to Central Arkansas Bears, where they fell 62-79.
The Colonels had a strong home record of 3-1 in their last four games at Baptist Health Arena, while their away record was poor at 0-6. The Wolves, on the other hand, had a home record of 2-3 and an away record of 1-4 over their last five games. This matchup was particularly noteworthy as it was the third meeting between the two teams in recent seasons, with each team having won one game apiece prior to this encounter. In their previous meetings, the Colonels won 95-73 at home in February 2025, while the Wolves claimed an 88-76 victory in January 2026.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but both teams were looking to field their best players in this crucial game. The market had priced Eastern Kentucky as a 7.5-point favorite according to DraftKings, with a total set at 154.5. The odds reflected a competitive matchup, indicating that the Colonels were expected to perform well at home.
The game conditions were conducive to an exciting atmosphere, with both teams bringing their best to the court. The scoring plays in overtime highlighted the intensity of the match, with Juan Cranford Jr. and Shelton Williams-Dryden making crucial free throws and layups in the final moments. Cranford's two free throws put the Colonels ahead 77-76, while Williams-Dryden's tip-in gave the Wolves an 80-77 lead. However, the Colonels responded with a jumper from Cranford and two more free throws from MJ Williams to seal the victory at 81-80.
This game was not just a test of skill but also a demonstration of resilience from both teams. The Colonels' ability to capitalize on free throw opportunities in the overtime period ultimately made the difference, allowing them to secure a hard-fought win at home.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | EKU -7.5 | 154.5 o -105 / u -115 | West Georgia Wolves +240 · Eastern Kentucky Colonels -298 |
Leaders
- PointsMontavious Myrick19Eastern Kentucky Colonels
- AssistsMJ Williams8Eastern Kentucky Colonels
- ReboundsYvens Paul9Eastern Kentucky Colonels
- PointsShelton Williams-Dryden20West Georgia Wolves
- AssistsMalcolm Noel5West Georgia Wolves
- ReboundsJaVar Daniel8West Georgia Wolves
Recent form
Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Last 10: 3-7Streak L280 scored · 81.2 allowed per game3-1 at home
- L78-84at North Alabama LionsFeb 15
- 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
West Georgia Wolves
Last 10: 3-7Streak L175.3 scored · 80.1 allowed per game1-4 away
- L62-79at Central Arkansas BearsFeb 14
- W82-73at North Alabama LionsFeb 12
- W87-73vs Jacksonville DolphinsFeb 7
- L73-81vs North Florida OspreysFeb 6
- L78-81vs Austin Peay GovernorsJan 31
- L74-77at Bellarmine KnightsJan 29
- W74-66vs Queens University RoyalsJan 24
- L65-86vs Central Arkansas BearsJan 22
- L72-90at Florida Gulf Coast EaglesJan 17
- L86-95at Stetson HattersJan 16
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 | West Georgia Wolves | Eastern Kentucky Colonels |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-66 | 30-72 |
| Field goal % | 47 | 42 |
| Three-pointers | 6-23 | 7-26 |
| Three-point % | 26 | 27 |
| Free throws | 12-24 | 14-21 |
| Free throw % | 50 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 43 | 44 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 32 | 30 |
| Assists | 17 | 19 |
| Steals | 7 | 8 |
| Blocks | 5 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 42 | 42 |
| Fouls | 17 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 14 |
| Lead changes | 14 | 14 |
| Time in front | 21 | 69 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half42-51Turner Buttry makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-52Turner Buttry makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-52Shelton Williams-Dryden makes 10-foot jumper (Matija Žužić assists)
- 2nd Half46-52JaVar Daniel makes 8-foot jumper (Shelton Williams-Dryden assists)
- 2nd Half47-52JaVar Daniel makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half47-54Montavious Myrick makes 1-foot dunk (Juan Cranford Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half50-54Josh Smith makes 25-foot three point jumper (Shelton Williams-Dryden assists)
- 2nd Half50-55Juan Cranford Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-57Tyler Jackson makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half52-57Shelton Williams-Dryden makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half54-57Kolten Griffin makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half56-57Josh Smith makes 6-foot jumper (Malcolm Noel assists)
- 2nd Half56-59MJ Williams makes 3-foot jumper
- 2nd Half56-60MJ Williams makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half58-60Shelton Williams-Dryden makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half58-61Juan Cranford Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-61JaVar Daniel makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kolten Griffin assists)
- 2nd Half63-61Shelton Williams-Dryden makes layup (Malcolm Noel assists)
- 2nd Half63-64Turner Buttry makes 23-foot three point jumper (Yvens Paul assists)
- 2nd Half65-64JaVar Daniel makes 1-foot dunk (Malcolm Noel assists)
- 2nd Half65-66Jalen Cooper makes driving layup (MJ Williams assists)
- 2nd Half66-66JaVar Daniel makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-66JaVar Daniel makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-66JaVar Daniel makes layup
- 2nd Half69-69Turner Buttry makes 23-foot three point jumper (MJ Williams assists)
- OT71-69Kolten Griffin makes 0-foot tip in layup
- OT71-71Jalen Cooper makes layup (Juan Cranford Jr. assists)
- OT72-71Josh Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT72-73Asa White makes 0-foot tip in layup
- OT73-73Shelton Williams-Dryden makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT73-75Jalen Cooper makes driving layup (Juan Cranford Jr. assists)
- OT76-75Josh Smith makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
- OT76-76Juan Cranford Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT76-77Juan Cranford Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT77-77Shelton Williams-Dryden makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT78-77Shelton Williams-Dryden makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT80-77Shelton Williams-Dryden makes 0-foot tip in layup
- OT80-79Juan Cranford Jr. makes 5-foot jumper
- OT80-80MJ Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT80-81MJ Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Eastern Kentucky Colonels, below favours West Georgia Wolves.
Venue
- Baptist Health ArenaRichmond, KY
- Attendance1379
- OfficialsJason Creek, Jesse Joseph, Eric Lowe
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