One of the biggest surprises of the young college basketball season has been East Texas A&M, which has opened with two consecutive road upsets and will look to remain undefeated Wednesday morning when it hosts Fairleigh Dickinson in Commerce, Texas.
The Lions (2-0) were picked to finish last in the 12-team Southland Conference preseason poll, but they’ve already turned plenty of heads. Their impressive start has earned them the No. 13 spot in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 and even a vote in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll.
East Texas A&M opened its season with a stunning 68-64 victory at Oklahoma on November 2. It was the program’s first win over a power-conference opponent since moving to Division I. Bo Aldridge led the Lions with 22 points, while Alonzo Dodd added 15 points on five 3-pointers.
The Lions followed that performance with a dramatic 72-71 victory at Rice last Thursday. Mohamed Diakite scored a game-high 23 points and blocked a potential go-ahead shot in the closing seconds to preserve the win. Aldridge added 16 points, while Dodd contributed 14 points and seven rebounds.
Fairleigh Dickinson (1-2), meanwhile, has endured a difficult start under head coach Jack Castleberry. The Knights suffered a pair of lopsided road losses against Illinois and Butler before finally picking up their first win on Saturday.
FDU defeated Division III CCNY 93-56 behind 18 points and six assists from JR Jacobs. The Knights led by just six points at halftime before outscoring the Beavers 49-18 in the second half. Travis Torain and David Jevtic added 15 points apiece.
These programs also met last November, with East Texas A&M overcoming a 17-point deficit to defeat FDU 70-65 in Hackensack.
Wednesday’s rematch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN+ as part of East Texas A&M’s Education Day at The Field House.
FDU vs. East Texas A&M Odds Today
East Texas A&M is a 9.5-point favorite over Fairleigh Dickinson in Wednesday’s home opener:
- Winner: East Texas A&M -700 | FDU +450
- Point Spread: East Texas A&M -9.5 (-150) | FDU +9.5 (+125)
- Total: Over 137.5 (-120) | Under 137.5 (-105)
Referenced odds subject to change.
FDU vs. East Texas A&M Prediction
East Texas A&M -9.5 (-150): The Lions have already pulled off two impressive road upsets this season and now return home with an excellent opportunity to improve to 3-0.
East Texas A&M was nearly a 30-point underdog at Oklahoma before shocking the Sooners in Norman. The Lions followed that performance with another outright upset at Rice as 3.5-point road underdogs. Those results make Wednesday’s matchup against FDU look considerably more manageable.
The Knights have been completely outmatched in their two games against Division I competition. They opened the season with an embarrassing 120-45 loss at No. 3 Illinois before getting blown out 99-65 at Butler.
That’s two defeats by a combined 109 points. FDU allowed an average of 109.5 points in those games and was outrebounded by a combined 63 boards.
The Knights finally picked up their first victory against Division III CCNY, but that result offers little reason for optimism heading into Wednesday’s matchup.
East Texas A&M has already proven it can compete against much stronger opponents. With the Lions returning home after two impressive road victories, they should have little trouble handling an FDU team that has struggled badly against Division I competition.
- Best Bet: East Texas A&M -9.5 (-150)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
- Winner: East Texas A&M has received 93.7% of all moneyline tickets and 92.6% of the handle at -700.
- Spread: East Texas A&M has attracted approximately 93% of spread tickets and 97% of the handle across its available lines. Betting volume remains light in this market.
- Total: The Over 137.5 has drawn approximately 71% of all tickets and 59% of the handle. The Under has received 29% of tickets and 41% of the money wagered.
FDU vs. East Texas A&M Game Info
- 🏟️ Location: The Field House – Commerce, Texas
- đź“… Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
- ⏰ Start Time: 11:30 a.m. ET
- đź“ş Where to Watch: ESPN+
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