EASTERN ILLINOIS (18-11, 11-7)
vs. Eastern Kentucky (20-11, 11-7)
March 2, 2010 • 7:30 p.m. (CST)
Lantz Arena • Charleston, Ill.
Radio: Hit Mix 88.9 FM • TV: WEIU
Mike Bradd & Jack Ashmore
GAME 30
Eastern Illinois will be playing its first home Ohio Valley Conference Tournament game since the 2001 season when they host Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday evening. EIU earned the No. 4 seed in the tournament following the Panthers seventh straight win on Saturday night over Tennessee State. EKU fell to the No. 5 seed after losing at home against Murray State on Saturday evening. Both teams ended the season in a three way with Austin Peay with all three schools posting an 11-7 OVC mark. EIU has previously been the host for an OVC Tournament game three times with EIU going 2-1 in those previous games.
EIU-EASTERN KENTUCKY SERIES
This will be the 29th meeting between Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky and perhaps the most important meeting in the series history. EKU holds a 16-12 series advantage after the two schools split the season series. EKU beat EIU in Richmond, 67-59, back on Jan. 14 while EIU knocked off EKU in Charleston, 77-54, on Feb. 13. This will be the first time that EIU and EKU have met in the OVC Tournament.
SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY
Eastern Kentucky enters as one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the nation with four players knocking down 48 or more 3-pointers this season. Justin Stommes is the team's leading scorer and assist man with 14.3 points per game and 3.6 assists per game. Josh Taylor is second on the team at 13.4 points per game while hitting 73 3-pointers this season. EKU has made 310 3-pointers this season to rank second nationally in 3-pointers per game trailing only Virginia Military Institute.
EIU AND THE OVC TOURNAMENT
Eastern Illinois will be hosting its first OVC home tournament game since the 2001 season when the Panthers advanced to their last NCAA Tournament. EIU is 2-1 in previous home tournament games with wins over Morehead State (2001) and Austin Peay (2000) after suffering a loss to Tennessee State in 1998. EIU will be playing as the No. 4 seed for the first time in school history. Overall since joining the OVC in 1997, EIU has posted a 4-8 record in OVC Tournament action.
