Eastern Kentucky University’s men’s basketball non-conference schedule will include two games against teams that played in last season’s NCAA Tournament, three games against NIT squads and a game against the CBI Tournament champion.
The Colonels’ 11 non-conference contests against NCAA Division I competition include nine games against opponents who had a winning record and won 17 or more games last season. Five of those teams won 20 or more.
After renovation of the seating bowl, EKU will play its first game of the season in Baptist Health Arena against in-state rival Western Kentucky (17-15) on Nov. 10.
Fans wishing to purchase season tickets should contact the EKU Ticket Office at 859-622-2122 or via email at tickets@eku.edu.
The Colonels will play at Vanderbilt on Nov. 12. The Commodores won 20 games last season, including one in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. EKU will host Wofford (19-16) on Nov. 29. The Terriers won the Southern Conference Tournament and played in the NCAA tourney.
The first game against a 2025 NIT participant will be Nov. 18 at Kent State (24-12). The Colonels will wrap up the non-conference portion of their 2025-26 schedule with back-to-back games against NIT squads at Jacksonville State (23-13) on Dec. 17 and at Wichita State (19-15) on Dec. 21.
Illinois State (22-14) won three games in four days to capture the 2025 CBI championship in Daytona Beach. The Colonels will meet the Redbirds on Dec. 3 in Normal, Illinois.
EKU will begin the 2025-26 season against Midway University on Nov. 6. That game will be played at the Seabury Center on the campus of Berea College at 8 p.m. Additional non-conference games include Mercer at home on Nov. 22. EKU will play at Northern Kentucky (17-16) on Nov. 24. The Colonels will host Indiana University East on Dec. 6. A match-up against former Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Illinois is scheduled for Dec. 10 in Charleston, Illinois.
The final non-conference home game comes on Dec. 13 against Miami (Ohio), a team that went 25-9 overall and 14-4 in the Mid-American Conference last season.
Illinois State (No. 3), Miami (No. 11) and Kent State (No. 24) are all ranked in the Field of 68 Mid Major Preseason Top 25.
Despite losing 82% of its rebounds, 77% of its assists, 77% of its minutes and 75% of its points from the 2023-24 squad, the Colonels (18-14) still won 18 games last season. EKU went 12-6 in conference games.
The Atlantic Sun Conference slate, which was released in July, will begin on Jan. 1 at Queens.
