Following four straight wins, the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team has climbed back into the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25®.
The Colonels checked in at No. 25 in this week’s poll.
EKU (9-2, 3-1 OVC) defeated Eastern Illinois, 69-61, last Wednesday at home, before going on the road to beat preseason OVC co-favorite Austin Peay, 80-75, on Saturday in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Behind a relentless pressure defense, Eastern leads the country in steals-per-game (13.5), ranks second in turnovers forced-per-game (22.3) and ranks third in turnover margin (+8.1).
The Colonels are balanced offensively – led by juniors Brandon Knapper (20.3 points-per-game) and Tre King (16.2), freshman Wendell Green Jr. (11.9), junior Jomaru Brown (11.8), redshirt freshman Curt Lewis (9.6) and sophomore Michael Moreno (9.4).
EKU is one of only two OVC schools featured in the Top-25. Belmont (10-1, 4-0 OVC) is currently ranked No. 6.
The Colonels are positioned directly behind the likes San Francisco (No. 24), Louisiana (No. 23), Chattanooga (No. 22), Mercer (No. 21) and Missouri State (No. 20).
Unbeaten Gonzaga sits atop the rankings.
The Colonels host Jacksonville State (January 7) and Tennessee Tech (January 9) this week at McBrayer Arena.
— www.EKUSports.com ––
Steve Fohl
Associate Director of EKUSports Communications