Troy at Kent State

Both Troy and Kent State were excellent last season, especially on defense. The Trojans finished 23-11 overall and 13-5 in the Sun Belt Conference, claiming the Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles. However, Troy lost its top scorers to the transfer portal with Tayton Conerway leaving for Indiana, Myles Rigsby going to Tulsa, and center Jackson Fields heading to West Virginia. Kent State held opponents to an average of 68.3 points per game, which ranked 63rd in the nation last season. The Trojans had a problem with turnovers, committing 13.5 per game. That ranked 320th. Breaking in many new players against a tough defense, such as Kent State's, on the road is going to be tough for the turnover-prone Trojans. The Golden Flashes posted a 24-12 record and reached the National Invitation Tournament Quarterfinals during the 2024-2025 season. They have several key players returning. Among them are Delrecco Gillespie, Morgan Safford, and guard Cian Medley. Gillespie averaged a team-leading 8.1 rebounds per game. Safford averaged double-digit points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Take Kent State on the moneyline.