EASTERN ILLINOIS (3-1) vs. BELMONT (2-2)
Nov. 28, 2009 • 6 p.m. (CST)
Lantz Arena • Charleston, Ill.
Radio: Hit Mix 88.9 FM
- Rob Calhoun & Derrick Landrus
GAME 5
Eastern Illinois opened the season with a 3-1 record for first time since the 1998-99 season following Tuesday night's win over Chicago State. The Panthers are averaging 78.2 points per game and have outscored their opponents by a 12.5 margin. With a win over Belmont on Saturday, EIU would improve to 4-1 for the first time since the 1993-94 season. Belmont enters the contest with a 2-2 record following a win last Saturday over Alabama State. The Bruins have had a week lay-off prior to coming to Charleston.
EIU-BELMONT SERIES
This will be the first meeting between Eastern Illinois and Belmont. The two schools will play an in-season home-and-home series this year with a return game in Nashville on Dec. 19. EIU has a record of 2-2 against current members of the Atlantic Sun Conference with previous meetings against Campbell (2-0), East Tennessee State (0-1) and Florida Gulf Coast (0-1).
SCOUTING BELMONT
Belmont enters the game with a 2-2 record and features a relatively young team with only two seniors on the roster. Redshirt senior forward Keaton Belcher has been the Bruins leading scorer in the early season with a 13 points per game average. Belmont has four players that all average in double figures as they average 75.8 points per game as a team.
PANTHERS ON THE BLOCK
Eastern Illinois swatted away seven shots at Chicago State on Tuesday night during the Panthers 82-68 win over the Cougars.
T.J. Marion led the team with two blocks as he moved into the team season lead with three other players at two blocks. The seven blocks in a game are the most for EIU since an 11 block night against Tennessee Tech on Dec. 8, 2005.
