RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky will begin its 2026-27 season on Monday at home against Kentucky Christian.
 
The contest will begin at 7 p.m. ET and air live on ESPN+.  The live audio broadcast of the game is available worldwide on EKUSports.com and the EKUSports app.
 
Monday will be Social Media Night at the game with fan votes, Tik Tok station and photo opp.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU has won six straight season openers, including a 122-60 victory over Midway to begin the 2025-26 season.
 
-  Eastern returns only one starter – Yvens Paul – and welcomes in 11 new players for the 2026-27 season.
 
-  The Colonels defeated Morehead State, 78-67, in an exhibition game on Oct. 21.  EKU shot 53% from the field in the second half and 43% for the game.  Eastern was 11-for-32 from 3-point range.
 
-  Newcomer Shadrak Lasu finished with a double-double in the exhibition game, contributing 10 points and 11 rebounds while hitting 4-of-6 from the field.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Kentucky Christian began its season with an 84-82 victory at home against Cumberland University on Oct. 24.  Lemar Northington II hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left in the game to give the Knights the win.  
 
- KCU shot 42% from the field and 27% from 3-point range in its first game of the season.  The Knights allowed Cumberland to make 51% of its shots from the field, despite hitting on just 25% (3-for-12) from behind the 3-point arc.
 
-  Brandon Williams, a 6-foot-4 senior guard, scored a team-best 20 points to lead Kentucky Christian.  Keaton Baird, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward, had 19 points and a team-high eight rebounds.  Jayden Loydd, a 5-foot-9 senior guard, had 11 points, six assists and six rebounds.
 
-  Last season, Kentucky Christian went 9-17 overall and 6-10 in the River States Conference.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  EKU is 3-0 all-time against Kentucky Christian.  The first meeting came in 2002.  The teams haven't met since the 2014-15 season.
 
-  In the most recent meeting, Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a 21-1 lead and never looked back in a 115-35 victory over Kentucky Christian on Nov. 18, 2014 in Richmond.  The 80-point margin broke what was then the school record of 73 set in 1990.  Twenty-four of Eastern's first 29 points were scored off lay-ups or dunks.  EKU finished with a 54-10 advantage in the paint.  Seven players scored in double figures.