RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University will take to the road to play at Stetson on Saturday.  The Colonels are in first-place in the Atlantic Sun Conference and hold a two-game lead over the second-place Hatters.
 
The game will begin at 4:45 p.m. ET and air live on ESPN+.  The live radio broadcast of the game is available in the Richmond area on WCYO 100.7 FM, or worldwide on EKUSports.com.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU (13-10, 9-1 ASUN) opened ASUN play with seven straight wins, tying the program record for best conference start.  After falling for the first time to Queens, the Colonels have won at Kennesaw State (86-76) and at home over Florida Gulf Coast (90-82).
 
-  Isaiah Cozart broke EKU's career blocks record on Wednesday against FGCU, surpassing Nick Mayo's total of 177.  Cozart finished with his 10th double-double of the season, posting 21 points and 13 rebounds to go along with four blocks.  He ranks 19th in the nation this season in double-doubles.  Cozart now has 179 blocks in less than two full seasons as a Colonel.
 
-  EKU shot a season-best 60.4 percent from the field in the win over FGCU.  It was the first time the Colonels shot 60 percent or better since Jan. 21, 2021.
 
-  Devontae Blanton scored 24 points against the Eagles on Wednesday, 22 of which came in the second half.  In his last two games, Blanton is averaging 23.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 64 percent from the field.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Stetson enters the game at 15-10 overall and 7-3 against league teams.  The Hatters have won two straight and four of their last five.  Stetson won at Bellarmine, 84-77, on Wednesday.   
 
- Jalen Blackmon leads the ASUN with an average of 20.8 points per game and is also first in free throw percentage (90.2).  The 6-foot-3 junior guard is second in 3-point percentage (40.6), third in 3-pointers made per game (3.44), third in minutes (34.11 per game) and sixth in field goal percentage (44.6).
 
-  Stetson is 21st in the nation with 9.6 3-pointers per game, 36th in 3-pointers attempted (25.9) and 39th in 3-point percentage (36.9 percent).  The Hatters are second in the league in 3-point defensive field goal percentage at 32.6 percent.
 
-  Blackmon hit eight 3-pointers and finished with 26 points at Bellarmine.  Josh Smith, a 6-foot-9 senior forward, scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
 
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
-  EKU (42.6 percent) and Stetson (42.8 percent) are the top two teams in the ASUN in defensive field goal percentage.  The Hatters (71.2) are also second in points allowed per game.  The Colonels (76.6) are ninth.
 
-  Stetson is second in the ASUN in field goal percentage (46.3 percent).  EKU is third at 45.7 percent.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  Stetson leads the all-time series 2-1.  The Hatters won the first meeting, 88-68, on Dec. 19, 196 in Daytona Beach.  Since joining the ASUN Conference, the two teams have split a pair of games with each winning on their own home court.
 
-  In last year's game, EKU rolled to an 85-70 win over Stetson on Jan. 14, 2023 at Baptist Health Arena.  The Colonels scored the first four points and never looked back.  Back-to-back 3-pointers from Michael Moreno staked EKU to a 17-4 lead.  A Leland Walker jumper and a dunk by Cozart made it a 15-point margin, 24-9.  Stetson made just three field goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, starting 3-for-12 from the field.  Cozart finished with a double-double for the Colonels, 16 points and 14 rebounds.  Wheza Panzo had 14 points to lead Stetson.