02/04/2026

RICHMOND, Ky.—The Florida Gulf Coast University men’s basketball team looks for its third Atlantic Sun Conference win in a row when it travels to play Eastern Kentucky University at 7 p.m. Thursday at Baptist Health Arena.

FGCU (10-13, 4-6 ASUN) enters the matchup following a 68-49 win over Jacksonville University last Saturday. The Eagles dominated the perimeter on defense, holding the Dolphins to 5.9% from beyond the arc as Jacksonville finished 1-for-17 from 3-point range. FGCU made seven 3-pointers and outscored Jacksonville 15-8 at the free-throw line. FGCU also converted 16 Dolphin turnovers into 15 points.

Jordan Ellerbee led the Eagles with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including three 3-pointers. Tristen Guillouette added 11 points, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line. J.R. Konieczny made his return for the Eagles, finishing with nine points and eight rebounds.

Ellerbee leads the Eagles in total scoring with 310 points. Konieczny is second with 291 points, averaging 15.3 points per game. Rahmir Barno is third with 276 points. The trio is averaging a combined 38.1 points per game. Isaiah Malone leads the team on the glass with 128 rebounds and has 44 blocks. Barno has a team-high 120 assists and 39 steals.

Eastern Kentucky (7-16, 3-7 ASUN) is looking to snap a four-game losing streak, most recently falling 90-81 to the University of Central Arkansas last Saturday. The Colonels cut the Bears’ lead to 53-49 with 14:56 left in the game on a 3-pointer by Jayden Harris but were unable to close the gap further.

Central Arkansas controlled the interior outscoring Eastern Kentucky 40-20 in the paint. The Bears also scored 13 points off 15 Colonels’ turnovers. Jackson Holt and Harris led Eastern Kentucky each scoring 16 points. MJ Williams and Tyler Jackson each chipped in 14.

Juan Cranford Jr. leads the Colonels with a total of 284 points, averaging 12.3 points per game. Montavious Myrick is second with 237 points and Austin Ball is third with 222 points. All three are averaging a combined 32.3 points per game. Myrick leads the team on the glass with 152 rebounds. Turner Buttry has a team-high 75 assists. Williams has 30 steals and Yvens Paul has 20 blocks.

To secure a road victory, FGCU must maintain the defensive intensity shown against Jacksonville, particularly in defending the 3-point line. While Central Arkansas found success in the paint against EKU, FGCU’s path to victory relies on Rahmir Barno’s ability to facilitate the offense and Jordan Ellerbee’s efficiency from deep. If the Eagles can win the turnover battle and limit EKU’s second-chance opportunities, they have a prime opportunity to move closer to .500 in conference play.