SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum for a late-season push will meet Wednesday when the Kennesaw State Owls visit the Missouri State Bears in a Conference USA men’s basketball matchup. The game, scheduled for Feb. 18, 2026, at JQH Arena, features squads with nearly identical records. Kennesaw State arrives at 14-11 overall, while Missouri State sits at 13-12. Both are coming off narrow home losses this past Saturday, adding urgency to this midweek contest. The Owls will look to replicate their success from the teams’ first meeting, a 90-80 Kennesaw State victory at home on Jan. 7. Since that game, the Owls have gone 5-5 but are currently mired in a three-game skid, including an 83-79 loss to Sam Houston where Braedan Lue scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Lue, a key player for the Owls, has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 20.3 points over his last three games despite the losses. His supporting cast includes Amir Taylor and RJ Johnson, who each added 21 points in the loss to Sam Houston. Missouri State has also struggled recently, dropping four of its last five games. The Bears fell 76-67 to Delaware on Saturday, despite a 25-point effort from guard Kobi Williams. Williams has shouldered the scoring load for the Bears, averaging 20.8 points over his last five outings. The Bears will aim to defend their home court and even the season series. Their recent home games have been agonizingly close, including a double-overtime, 79-78 loss to Louisiana Tech on Feb. 12. With the Conference USA tournament on the horizon, both teams are jockeying for seeding. Kennesaw State’s potent offense, averaging over 87 points in its last two games, will test a Missouri State defense seeking stability. The matchup between high-volume scorers Lue and Williams could dictate the pace. The Owls continue a road-heavy stretch later this week at Louisiana Tech, while Missouri State heads to Florida International on Saturday.