Midway University vs Eastern Kentucky prediction: Eastern Kentucky's three-point barrage gets a tune-up against Midway
The Colonels shot threes more often than almost anyone last season, and a visitor they beat 122-60 a year ago offers a first look at a defense that needs fixing.
- Expect Eastern Kentucky to dictate the scoreboard against a non-Division I visitor. It beat Midway 122-60 on this same date last year.
- Watch the Colonels' perimeter defense: opponents shot 36.1% from three against them last season, 325th of 365.
- No spread or total has been posted. Last season's 122-60 result is the only head-to-head reference.
An opener with an asterisk
Eastern Kentucky hosts Midway at Baptist Health Arena on Nov. 6, and even the game's status isn't settled. Midway's schedule lists it as an exhibition, while ESPN carries it as a regular-season game. The Colonels beat Midway 122-60 in the same slot last season.
The bigger change sits further down the calendar. Eastern Kentucky played 2025-26 in the ASUN and opens play in its new league, the UAC, at Austin Peay on Jan. 6. A.W. Hamilton, in charge since 2019, is still the head coach.
Shooting first, asking later
Last season the Colonels built their offense on volume from deep. Their 3-point attempt rate (share of shots taken from three) was 50.7%, 11th-highest in Division I, and they made 35.4% of those tries. They also played quickly, ranking 84th in pace at 69.6 possessions per 40 minutes.
That formula produced an offense ranked 114th in efficiency (points per 100 possessions) last season. Against a non-Division I visitor, the same approach should generate a flood of open looks.
The defense is the real project
The trouble last season was at the other end. Eastern Kentucky finished 11-21, and its opponents posted a 55.6% effective field goal percentage (threes count 1.5 times), 351st of 365. Its adjusted defense, last season's final rating, ranked 342nd.
The roster may look different. ESPN's 2026-27 list no longer shows Amarr Knox, MJ Williams, Juan Cranford Jr. or Jayden Harris, though that page is undated and may be incomplete. No injury or eligibility news has surfaced for either team, but neither has been checked closely, so treat availability as unconfirmed.
Numbers that matter
| Last meeting | 122-60 | Eastern Kentucky's margin over Midway on Nov. 6, 2025. |
|---|---|---|
| 3-point attempt rate rank, last season | 11th | The Colonels took half their shots from deep in 2025-26. |
| Opponent eFG%, last season | 55.6% | Ranked 351st of 365, the clearest weakness from a 11-21 season. |
Midway University vs Eastern Kentucky: quick answers
When is Midway University vs Eastern Kentucky?
Friday, November 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.