Preview: Salt Lake Looks to Avenge OT Loss at Utah State Eastern

PRICE, Utah (Interstat) — The Utah State Eastern Eagles will look to complete a regular-season sweep and solidify their winning record when they host the Salt Lake Community College Bruin Bears in a men’s junior college basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.

The Eagles (17-7) enter with a clear advantage in the standings over the struggling Bruin Bears (9-16). Utah State Eastern also holds a psychological edge, having defeated Salt Lake 79-68 in overtime on Feb. 7 in the teams’ most recent meeting. Ike Palmer powered the Eagles in that victory, finishing with 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Palmer remains the focal point for Utah State Eastern. The guard is averaging 16.8 points over his last five games, including a 20-point, five-assist performance in a win over Colorado Northwestern on Feb. 5. The Eagles have lost two of their last three, however, including an 84-64 road loss to Snow on Feb. 12 where Palmer had 13 points and six rebounds.

Salt Lake has lost four consecutive games since its Jan. 29 win over Colorado Northwestern. The Bruin Bears’ offense has been inconsistent, failing to reach 70 points in three of those four losses.

A bright spot for Salt Lake has been the recent play of Lantz Stephenson. The guard erupted for 20 points in 25 minutes in a loss to Southern Idaho on Feb. 14, showcasing a scoring burst the team desperately needs. His production will be key if the Bruin Bears hope to challenge the Eagles on the road.

Utah State Eastern won the season’s first matchup in Price 78-72 back on Jan. 3. Salt Lake’s last win in the series came via a 102-62 victory over Eastern Wyoming in November 2021, a non-conference game that predates the current roster.

Following this matchup, Salt Lake will host Colorado Northwestern on Feb. 25. Utah State Eastern begins a two-game road trip at Southern Idaho on Feb. 26.