Stony Brook basketball hits mid-February pivot point as men and women chase CAA positioning
Monday night's CAA showdown pits Drexel against Stony Brook in a game with postseason positioning implications. Tip is set for 8 p. m. ET on Feb. 16, 2026, at the Island Federal Credit Union Arena in Stony Brook, NY. Both teams enter the matchup near the middle of the conference standings, but the winner will take a meaningful step toward the league's upper tier.
Line, recent form and game context
The matchup opens with Drexel listed as a 2. 5-point underdog and an over/under near 135. 5 points. Stony Brook arrives at 15-11 overall and 7-6 in conference play; Drexel checks in at 13-13 and 7-6 in the CAA. The teams split the season series in terms of importance after a lopsided first meeting that saw Drexel roll to a 65-37 victory — a result the Seawolves will be eager to avenge.
Recent form for both sides has been uneven. Stony Brook dropped a 69-57 decision at Towson in its most recent outing, while Drexel fell 93-73 at Monmouth. Drexel's most productive recent scorer, Dillon Tingler, poured in 19 points in the Monmouth game; the Dragons as a group are averaging a modest 68. 6 points per game on 44. 0% shooting, with 34. 7% accuracy from three.
Matchups and tactical keys
The biggest matchup to watch is Stony Brook's reliance on Erik Pratt. Pratt is the Seawolves' primary engine, averaging 19. 0 points, 4. 6 rebounds and 3. 6 assists per game. He shot just 26. 7% from the field the first time these teams met — a performance that Stony Brook cannot afford to repeat if it wants a realistic chance at flipping the result.
On the other side, Drexel brings a set of metrics that favor the Dragons. Drexel outpaces Stony Brook in effective field goal percentage, defensive efficiency and effective possession ratio, and it defends the perimeter well, ranking among the better teams nationally in opponent three-point field-goal percentage (holding teams to roughly 31% from deep). That stylistic advantage matters because Stony Brook ranks relatively high in three-point attempt rate; if Drexel can force lower-percentage looks from the arc, it can blunt the Seawolves' spacing and limit second-chance opportunities.
Turnovers and rebounding will also be decisive. Drexel forces a fair number of turnovers and typically plays a disruptive defense that can generate transition chances. Stony Brook must limit live-ball turnovers and crash the glass to create extra possessions; falling behind on the boards will expose the Seawolves to Drexel's faster pace and efficiency gaps.
Prediction
This matchup projects as a close, grind-it-out conference game. The previous 65-37 result suggests Stony Brook is capable of a poor offensive night, but home-court advantage and the motivation to avenge the loss should lift the Seawolves. Still, Drexel's edge in underlying metrics and its ability to defend the three-point line give the Dragons a realistic path to cover and possibly win outright as a narrow underdog.
Final call: expect a competitive game that stays within a single possession late. Lean: Drexel to cover the spread and keep this one tight — pick the Dragons to win or lose by no more than 3 points in regulation.
