Conference Clashes Shake Up College Basketball Standings

As the college basketball season surges into the heart of conference play, several programs across the country are feeling the heat of January competition. From thrilling comebacks and dominant first-half performances to standout individual efforts, the week has been packed with action and anticipation for what lies ahead. Let’s take a tour through some of the most compelling storylines from Wednesday, January 7, 2026, and look ahead to pivotal upcoming matchups.

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Alma College men’s basketball team opened their Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) schedule on the road against the formidable Calvin University Knights. The Scots, entering the contest with momentum, found themselves in an early hole as Calvin sprinted to an 8-0 lead. Logan St. Martin finally got Alma on the board with a three-pointer, but the Knights weren’t done yet, stretching their advantage to 14 just six minutes in. The Scots, however, refused to let the game slip away. Korbin Heitzman, who’s been a force all season, scored eight straight points to narrow the gap, and a flurry of baskets by Heitzman, Joss Bradley, and Elijah Sykes eventually tied the game with eight minutes remaining in the first half. Alma even snatched the lead briefly thanks to a Bradley jumper and a St. Martin fast break layup, but the back-and-forth affair saw Calvin regain a slim 40-38 edge heading into halftime.

The second half opened with Alma’s Josh Elliott tying things up, but Calvin responded with a five-point burst and never looked back. Both squads traded buckets for several minutes, but the Knights’ offense found another gear, eventually building their first double-digit lead midway through the half. The Scots clawed back within six, but an 11-0 Calvin run ballooned the deficit to 17 with just six minutes left. Despite a late offensive push, Alma couldn’t close the gap, and Calvin handed the Scots their first conference loss of the season, 91-78.

Heitzman’s performance was a bright spot for Alma. Recording his fifth double-double of the season, he poured in 25 points and snagged 13 rebounds, cementing his status as one of the conference’s premier big men. St. Martin chipped in 15 points, including three shots from beyond the arc. Raine Rodich, Preston Malpass, and Heitzman each tallied three assists, while Donovan Collins led the defensive effort with three steals. The Scots found success off turnovers, outscoring Calvin 13-9, and their bench contributed 22 points to Calvin’s 13. The Scots’ road doesn’t get any easier—they’ll travel to Angola, Indiana, for a Saturday matinee against Trine University, with tipoff set for 3:00 PM.

Meanwhile, in Pella, Iowa, the Central College men’s basketball team returned home after a two-week road swing to face conference leaders Loras College in a much-anticipated American Rivers Conference clash. Central came out firing, racing to a 16-7 lead before Loras responded with a 12-0 run to seize the advantage. The Dutch hung tough, trading blows throughout a tightly contested first half, but a late Loras surge gave the visitors a 41-34 halftime edge.

Loras wasted no time extending their lead after the break, opening the second half with a 7-0 spurt and never letting Central back in the game. The Dutch struggled to generate consistent offense as Loras outscored them 49-26 after halftime, cruising to a 90-60 victory. Freshman Kyle Cason led Central with 14 points and a career-high three steals, while Grant Uecker anchored the boards with nine rebounds and four assists, also recording one of the team’s two blocks. Central will look to regroup quickly as they travel to Decorah to face Luther College on Saturday, January 10, at 4:00 PM.

Out on Long Island, the Farmingdale State College Rams continued their impressive run in Skyline Conference play, notching their tenth win of the season with an 85-74 triumph over St. Joseph’s-Long Island. The Rams fell behind 10-6 early but erupted for a 13-0 run, sparked by Dylon Stanley’s tip-in and Sean Conroy’s three-pointer. By halftime, Farmingdale State had built a commanding 46-24 lead, and though St. Joe’s tried to rally in the second half, the Rams answered every challenge. Michael Notias led all scorers with 17 points, Sean Conroy added 16 on efficient 7-of-10 shooting, and Stanley provided a spark off the bench with 15 points and six rebounds. Junior Kentrell Evans posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. With the win, Farmingdale State improved to 10-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Rams will aim to keep rolling when they travel to Merchant Marine for a noon tip on Saturday, January 10.

Turning to the West Coast, Pepperdine University’s men’s basketball team is gearing up for a pair of key West Coast Conference matchups after a narrow 74-69 loss to Pacific on January 4. The Waves, now 5-12 overall and 0-4 in WCC play, will face San Diego on the road Thursday night before returning home to host San Francisco on Saturday. Despite their record, Pepperdine has shown flashes of promise, particularly at the free throw line, where they rank 17th nationally with a .778 percentage. In their latest outing, the Waves converted 14 of 15 from the stripe and forced a season-high 18 turnovers from Pacific.

Javon Cooley has emerged as Pepperdine’s go-to scorer, averaging 13.4 points per game and ranking third in the WCC in free throw percentage at .930. Styles Phipps has been a do-it-all force, averaging over 11.5 points, six rebounds, and five assists per contest—a rare feat matched by just two other players nationwide. Aaron Clark provides steady production with 12.5 points per game and ranks among the league leaders in steals. Danilo Dozic leads the team in three-pointers made and has twice topped the 20-point mark this season. The Waves’ depth is evident, with seven different players having led the team in scoring at least once this year.

Pepperdine’s historical series advantage against San Diego (71-50) bodes well for Thursday’s matchup, though recent meetings have been closely contested. Saturday’s home tilt against San Francisco presents another stiff test, as the Dons have started conference play strong and boast one of the league’s stingiest defenses. After these contests, Pepperdine will remain home to face Portland on January 14.

With conference races tightening and every game carrying postseason implications, fans can expect more drama and standout performances as the weekend approaches. Whether it’s a battle for first place or a fight to get back on track, the stakes are only getting higher across college basketball’s landscape.