Deep dives, statistical breakdowns, and expert insights
Louisiana Monroe walked into February 5 searching for traction and walked out with an 85-79 win over Old Dominion. The result flips the script on two struggling teams, handing the Monarchs another close loss while giving the Warhawks a needed finish.
Wisc. Green Bay survived a second-half push to beat Northern Kentucky 87-84 on Feb. 5, 2026. The Phoenix carried a four-point halftime lead and did just enough late to snap NKU’s momentum.
Minnesota flipped its February narrative with a 76-73 win over Michigan State on Feb. 5, 2026. The Gophers entered at 10-12 on a five-game losing streak, then held off the 19-3 Spartans in a three-point finish.
Marshall protected home court Thursday, edging Southern Miss 81-77 on February 5, 2026. The win lifts the Thundering Herd to 14-8 and halts a choppy stretch, while Southern Miss drops to 12-12 as its skid continues.
Louisville shook off recent inconsistency and handled Notre Dame 76-65 on Feb. 5, 2026, improving to 15-6 on the season. The Irish, now 11-11, couldn’t turn their recent slide into a road breakthrough.
Loyola Maryland held off Lehigh 89-84 on Feb. 5, 2026, turning a tight first half into a statement finish. The Greyhounds led 35-33 after the first half and did enough late to secure the five-point victory.
Youngstown State walked into IPFW and delivered a wire-to-wire statement, blasting the Mastodons 90-61 on February 5, 2026. The Penguins outpaced a home team that entered at 14-9 and riding a WLWWW stretch, sending a jolt through the NCAA slate.
High Point turned a mismatch on paper into a decisive result on the floor, blasting Charleston Southern 80-55 on Feb. 5, 2026. The win keeps the Panthers near the top of their season arc while Charleston Southern’s skid deepens.
Troy handled business on the road, pulling away for a 74-63 win over Georgia State on Feb. 5, 2026. The result keeps Troy trending upward from a 15-8 record, while Georgia State fell to 9-14 despite entering on a three-game win streak.
Texas State walked into Georgia Southern and left with a 77-71 win on February 5, 2026, tightening the margins in a matchup between two teams hovering around .500. For the Eagles, the loss extends a skid that had already defined their recent form.
Duquesne walked into a matchup against 20-2 George Mason and walked out with a 71-65 road win on Feb. 5, 2026. The result flips the script on a Patriots team that had been rolling, and it gives the Dukes a signature win as they try to build consistency.
Longwood handled business on the road Thursday, knocking off Gardner-Webb 86-66 on Feb. 5, 2026. The Lancers’ win pushed them past a struggling Runnin’ Bulldogs group that entered at 3-20 and searching for traction.
Tulsa survived a late push from Florida Atlantic and left with a 78-76 road win on Feb. 5, 2026. The result kept the Golden Hurricane surging while FAU’s uneven stretch continued despite a tight finish.
Samaheej turned a tight first half into a runaway 100-71 win over Bahrain Club on Feb. 5, 2026. A decisive third quarter flipped the game and extended Bahrain Club’s slide to five straight losses.
Colgate took care of business at home Thursday, beating Army 69-55 to move to 14-10 on the season. The Raiders’ control on both ends separated the game and handed the Black Knights their 14th loss.
Arkansas State snapped a skid and handed Coastal Carolina a costly home loss, pulling out a 70-66 win on Feb. 5, 2026. The Red Wolves flipped a two-point halftime deficit into a four-point final by owning the second half.
Cleveland State put together its most complete offensive night in weeks, knocking off Oakland 91-78 on Feb. 5, 2026. The win moves the Vikings to 10-13 and keeps them trending the right way after a strong recent run.
Bucknell edged American University 60-59 on Feb. 5, 2026, flipping the script in a game that stayed tight to the final possession. The Bison, 7-16 entering the night, handed the 13-10 Eagles a stinging one-point loss and halted American’s recent momentum.
Alabama held off Texas A&M 100-97 on Feb. 5, 2026, snapping a tight finish in a game that never found a margin for error. The win moves the Crimson Tide to 14-7, while the Aggies fall to 17-4 after a fifth straight game decided by execution late.
Houston overwhelmed UCF Knights 79-55 on Feb. 5, 2026, pairing control on both ends with a decisive scoring margin that never let the game breathe. The win pushed the Cougars to 20-2, while UCF fell to 17-5.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff edged Grambling State 67-64 on Feb. 5, 2026, handing the Tigers a third straight loss. The Golden Lions, also coming in on a WWLLL stretch, grabbed a needed road result in a game that stayed within one possession late.
New Mexico State walked into Louisiana Tech and controlled the result, winning 72-63 on Feb. 5, 2026. The Aggies, coming in on a four-game losing streak, left with a stabilizing road victory over a Bulldogs team that couldn’t generate enough offense to flip the script.
Florida International held off Middle Tennessee 88-84 on Feb. 5, 2026, turning a one-point halftime edge into a much-needed win. The Panthers’ steadier finish flipped momentum for a team that entered on a three-game slide.
Sam Houston State survived a late push to beat UTEP 70-66 on Feb. 5, 2026, continuing its surge in the 2025-26 season. The Bearkats entered at 15-7 and in blistering form, and they played like it again in a tight finish.
