GAME NOTES  |  UT Martin Website

EASTERN ILLINOIS (8-10, 5-3 OVC)
at UT MARTIN (13-6, 6-3 OVC)

Jan. 24, 2009 • 6 pm
Elam Center • Martin, Tenn.
Radio: Hit Mix 88.9 FM
- Mike Bradd & Rich Moser

GAME 19
Eastern Illinois reaches the midway point of the Ohio Valley Conference schedule on Saturday night as they play at UT Martin. EIU enters the game in sole possession of fourth place with a 5-3 conference mark while UT Martin is in third place with a half game lead at 6-3. Following Saturday's game at UT Martin, the Panthers will play four straight OVC games at Lantz Arena before finishing the year with five of six contests on the road. The Panthers are coming off a Thursday loss at Murray State.

EIU - UT MARTIN SERIES
This will be the 27th meeting between Eastern Illinois and UT Martin with the series all square at 13-13. The Skyhawks swept the season series last year and have won four of the last six. UT Martin has won three straight over EIU at the Elam Center. The series has been so evenly matched that six of the previous 26 meetings have gone to overtime with EIU holding a 4-2 record in those games.

SCOUTING UT MARTIN
While the name Lester Hudson should pretty much describe UT Martin, the Skyhawks have been the OVC's hottest team recently based on the increased play of two other players. Hudson is the nation's second leading scorer at 27.8 ppg hitting for 20 or more points in all 19 games this year. He has a season high of 41 against Central Arkansas. Also helping UTM win five straight and 11-of-12 is the play of Marquis Weddle (13.6 ppg) and Olajide Hay (9.7 ppg).

SINGLE DIGIT ASSISTS
Eastern Illinois was held to single digit assists for only the second time this season as they finished with nine assists at Murray State Thursday. The previous single digit effort was also nine in the Jan. 5 loss at Tennessee Tech. For the season EIU is averaging 13.7 assists per game.