Preview: UHSP at Crowley’s Ridge (AR) - Men’s NAIA Basketball

PARAGOULD, Ark. (Interstat) — The Crowley’s Ridge Pioneers look to get back to .500 on the season when they host the struggling UHSP men’s basketball team in an NAIA matchup on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.

The Pioneers (6-7) enter after a narrow 65-63 home loss to Tennessee Southern last Friday. Caleb Wade posted 10 points and seven rebounds in that contest, while key contributor Azani Smith added nine points, four rebounds and a block. Smith, a player to watch for the Pioneers, has seen increased minutes recently, logging 29 against Tennessee Southern after more limited action in December.

They face a UHSP squad (1-12) mired in an eight-game losing streak, most recently a 132-80 road defeat at Fisk (Tenn.) on Saturday. Justin Coleman has been a consistent bright spot during the skid for UHSP. The player to watch is averaging 17.8 points over his last four games, including a 24-point performance in a one-point loss to Mission (Mo.) on Dec. 15 and 17 points with six rebounds against Fisk.

UHSP’s lone win this season came on Dec. 11, a 72-70 victory over Oakland City (Ind.) in which Coleman played 17 minutes. Crowley’s Ridge fell to that same Oakland City team, 76-63, on Dec. 30.

The Pioneers have shown resilience at home this season, including a 97-89 win over Cumberland (Tenn.) on Dec. 16. UHSP has yet to win a road game, with all contests away from home resulting in double-digit losses.

For Crowley’s Ridge, balancing the offensive load beyond Smith and Wade will be key. Hayden Robinson provided eight points and six rebounds in the last outing. For UHSP, finding support for Coleman is critical; Brennen Walker (eight points, eight rebounds vs. Fisk) and Landon Engelage (13 points vs. Fisk) are coming off their most productive game in weeks.

This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the teams this season. They are set to meet again at UHSP on Thursday, Feb. 5.