EASTERN ILLINOIS (13-11, 7-7)
vs. Eastern Kentucky (18-8, 10-4)
Feb. 13, 2010 • 6 p.m. (CST)
Lantz Arena • Charleston, Ill.
Radio: Hit Mix 88.9 FM • TV: WEIU
Mike Bradd & Jack Ashmore
GAME 25
Eastern Illinois will host Eastern Kentucky as the Panthers finish off a weekend series against the teams ranked second and third in the Ohio Valley Conference. EIU moved back to .500 in the OVC race with a 76-75 win over second place Morehead State on Thursday night. The Panthers are deadlocked with Jacksonville State in fifth place in the OVC standings but still within striking distance of a top four finish. EIU stands at 13-11 overall. Eastern Kentucky was able to avoid a Southeast Missouri upset on a cold shooting night Thursday as the Colonels won 59-56 in Cape Girardeau. EKU improved to 18-8 overall and 10-4 in the OVC as they are in third place in the OVC standings.
EIU-EASTERN KENTUCKY SERIES
Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky will play for the 28th time when they meet on Saturday night. The Colonels increased their series lead to 16-11 with a 67-59 win over the Panthers back on Jan. 14 in Richmond. Last season the two schools split the season series as EIU was able to win 58-48 in Lantz Arena which at the time snapped an eight game, five year losing streak to the Colonels.
SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY
Eastern Kentucky gets balanced scoring from all five starters as they each average between 8 and 15 points per game. The starters account for 57 of the team's 71.5 points per game. Justin Stommes is the leader with 15 points per game while hitting 53 percent from the floor and 43 percent from 3-point range. EKU is second in the nation in 3-pointers made with 262 while they rank 11th nationally in 3-point percentage at 40.2 percent.
EIU DRAWS NORTHERN ILLINOIS IN BRACKETBUSTER
Eastern Illinois will play an old rival as the Panthers drew Northern Illinois for this year's ESPNU Bracketbuster game. It will be the 85th time that the two schools have played each other with NIU holding a 43-42 series advantage.
