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UT Rio Grande Valley outscores opponents by 5.1 points per game (scoring 75.0 per game to rank 220th in college basketball while giving up 69.9 per contest to rank 75th in college basketball) and has a +112 scoring differential overall. The 75.0 points the Vaqueros average are just 0.6 more than the Huskies give up. UT Rio Grande Valley knocks down 9.2 three-pointers per game (79th in college basketball), 1.8 more than its opponents (7.4).

Florida Atlantic outscores opponents by 7.4 points per game (scoring 81.9 per game to rank 75th in college basketball while giving up 74.5 per outing to rank 207th in college basketball) and has a +162 scoring differential overall. The Owls put up 5.4 more points than the Pirates allow (76.5). Florida Atlantic hits 8.7 three-pointers per game (114th in college basketball) at a 33.9% rate (190th in college basketball), compared to the 7.6 per game its opponents make at a 34.3% rate.

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (18-3, 11-1 Southland) will look to extend a six-game win streak when they host the SE Louisiana Lions (6-15, 3-9 Southland) on January 31, 2026 at William R. Johnson Coliseum. SFA won its most recent game versus Northwestern State, 69-67, on Tuesday. Keon Thompson starred with 27 points, and also had six boards and two assists. SE Louisiana dropped its most recent game to McNeese, 76-66, on Tuesday. Makhi Myles led the way with 16 points, and also had seven boards and one assist.

Charlotte has a +19 scoring differential, putting up 74.4 points per game (233rd in college basketball) and allowing 73.5 (181st in college basketball). The 49ers average only 0.3 more points than the Owls give up (74.1). Charlotte connects on 8.5 three-pointers per game (127th in college basketball), while its opponents have made 7.8 on average. At home, the 49ers are putting up 4.3 more points per game (76.7) than they are away from home (72.4).

The Chattanooga Mocs (13-5) will try to build on a nine-game winning streak when they host the Mercer Bears (12-8) on January 30, 2026 at McKenzie Arena. On Saturday, in its last game, Chattanooga defeated Western Carolina 61-52. With 22 points, Caia Elisaldez was its leading scorer. On Saturday, in its most recent game, Mercer lost to Wofford 67-64. With 16 points, Nahawa Diarra Berthe was its top scorer. Catch tons of live women's college basketball, plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.

The Tennessee State Tigers (13-7, 7-3 OVC) host the Little Rock Trojans (9-11, 6-3 OVC) in OVC play at Gentry Center, starting at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 29, 2026. In its previous game, Tennessee State topped Lindenwood on Saturday, 96-86. Travis Harper II scored a team-high 30 points (and added zero assists and three boards). Little Rock lost its most recent game to Southeast Missouri State, 70-65, on Thursday. Johnathan Lawson was its top scorer with 21 points.

The Tarleton State Texans (11-9, 2-5 WAC) will attempt to break a four-game losing streak when they host the Utah Valley Wolverines (15-6, 5-3 WAC) on January 29, 2026 at EECU Center. In its previous game, Utah Valley fell to Cal Baptist on Saturday, 78-71 in OT. Its top scorer was Jackson Holcombe with 22 points. On Wednesday, in its most recent game, Tarleton State lost to UT Arlington 71-64. With 17 points, Camron McDowell was its top scorer.

The Arizona State Sun Devils (17-4) hope to extend an 11-game home win streak when they host the Arizona Wildcats (10-9) on January 28, 2026. On Saturday, in its last game, Arizona State fell to Cincinnati 66-64. With 19 points, Gabby Elliott was its high scorer. In its previous game, Arizona lost to Iowa State on Saturday, 90-65. Lani Cornfield scored a team-high 19 points (and added two assists and one rebound).

The Texas State Bobcats (11-11, 4-6 Sun Belt) will attempt to extend a three-game home winning streak when they take on the Marshall Thundering Herd (13-7, 5-3 Sun Belt) on January 28, 2026 at Strahan Arena at the University Events Center. In its previous game, Marshall defeated UL Monroe on Thursday, 115-60. Its high scorer was Wilson Dubinsky with 17 points. Texas State dropped its most recent game to James Madison, 82-57, on Saturday. Mark Drone was its leading scorer with 17 points.

Horizon action features the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (13-8) at home against the Robert Morris Colonials (14-6) on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET. Purdue Fort Wayne was victorious in its previous game against Northern Kentucky, 97-91, on Saturday. Rylee Bess was its top scorer with 27 points. In its previous game, Robert Morris beat Wright State on Saturday, 74-53.

The Tarleton State Texans (11-9, 2-5 WAC) will look to halt a four-game losing streak when they host the Abilene Christian Wildcats (10-9, 2-4 WAC) on January 26, 2026. The Wildcats have lost three games in a row. In its previous game, Tarleton State fell to UT Arlington on Wednesday, 71-64. Camron McDowell scored a team-high 17 points (and added one assist and two rebounds). In its previous game, Abilene Christian fell to Southern Utah on Saturday, 74-52. Its leading scorer was Bradyn Hubbard with 14 points.

The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (7-13, 2-7 OVC) will attempt to stop a three-game losing streak when they visit the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (12-8, 5-4 OVC) on January 24, 2026 at Sam M. Vadalabene Center. In its previous game, SIU-Edwardsville defeated Tennessee State on Thursday, 74-66. Its leading scorer was Kyle Thomas with 20 points. In its previous game, Tennessee Tech fell to Lindenwood on Thursday, 89-68. JaJuan Nicholls scored a team-high 15 points (and added zero assists and two boards).

He was also fluent in what boorish men call "locker-room talk" (like when he told a reader that his friends "lost the ability to call themselves guys the moment they allowed a female in their football fantasy league"), but his brazenness about sports usually came off as bravery, and for that he became one of ESPN's most valuable stars.

ESPN has had one of its most-viewed starts to the NBA regular season since it started to carry games in 2002. According to the network and Nielsen, ESPN averaged 2.6 million viewers in its first 21 games through Christmas, a 35% increase from last season and the second most-watched in a full season. The numbers for this season only trail 2010-11.

Kicking things off in the Premier League, we have our early matchup as third-placed Aston Villa take on league leaders Arsenal at Villa Park.

Microsoft is sponsoring a college football bowl game, with the first-ever "Xbox Bowl" taking place on Thursday, December 18 with Missouri State taking on Arkansas State. The Xbox Bowl is the replacement for the Bahamas Bowl, which will not happen this year. In a press statement, broadcaster ESPN--which is carrying the event--said there will be "fun, Xbox-themed moments and in-venue activations designed specifically for the bow." The event is taking place in Frisco, Texas at the Ford Center.

The first round of the 12-team College Football Playoff will start at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 19 on ABC and ESPN, followed by a tripleheader Dec. 20 that starts at noon, the CFP, ESPN and TNT announced Tuesday. ESPN, which has owned the exclusive rights to the playoff since its inception in 2015, is in the second year of its current expanded package, which includes all four games of the CFP first round with two of the games sublicensed to TNT Sports.