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EASTERN ILLINOIS (6-8, 2-2) at Southeast Missouri (4-11, 3-2)
Jan. 8, 2011 • 6 p.m. (CST)
Show-Me Center • Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Radio: Hit Mix 88.9 FM
GAME 15
Eastern Illinois returns to the hardwood for a road Ohio Valley Conference contest at Southeast Missouri on Saturday. This will mark the end of a three week stretch in which EIU played four of five games on the road. The Panthers are 6-8 on the year following a 80-47 win over Anderson University on Monday night at Lantz Arena. The Panthers are 2-2 in the OVC following a road split at Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State just prior to the Christmas holiday. Southeast Missouri is 4-11 overall but the Redhawks have improved to 3-2 in the OVC winning three straight conference contests. SEMO knocked off UT Martin 82-75 at the Show-Me Center on Monday night.
EIU-SOUTHEAST MISSOURI SERIES
This will be the 42nd game in the series between Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri. The Panthers have had the upper hand in the series of late winning five in a row to take a 23-18 series lead. The Panthers swept the season series the last two seasons and have won three straight at the Show-Me Center. Under current head coach Mike Miller, EIU is 7-3 against SEMO including a 4-1 record when playing in Cape Girardeau.
SCOUTING SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
The Redhawks got off to a rough start for the season losing their first ten games. Since a Dec. 11 win over Hannibal-LaGrange, SEMO has won four of its last five games including three straight in the OVC. The Redhawks are averaging 68.4 points per game including 79 points per game over the last five contests. Three players average in double figure scoring for the Redhawks led by Leon Powell at 14.5 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds per game.
MILLER TIME AGAINST SEMO/JSU
Head coach Mike Miller has had his most success playing Southeast Missouri and Jacksonville State since taking over the EIU program in 2005. Miller is 8-3 all-time against JSU and 7-3 all-time against SEMO.
GRANGER AMONG NATION'S ELITE AT THE LINE
Jeremy Granger was 4-of-4 from the free throw line on Monday against Anderson as the junior guard increased his current consecutive free throw streak to 15 straight. For the season Granger is hitting 92 percent (46-of-50) as he ranks second in the OVC and 12th in the NCAA in that category. Last season Granger led the OVC at 87.5 percent from the stripe which ranked 20th in the NCAA. Granger is currently at 86.8 percent for his career which would rank 5th on the OVC all-time list. This season Granger is fourth in the OVC in assists (4.2) and first in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2).
PANTHERS GET BALANCE OFF THE BENCH
Playing its first game of the 2011 calendar year, Eastern Illinois was able to pull away from Anderson University for a 80-47 win. The Panthers had a balanced effort off the bench with two players scoring in double figures and all six bench players pulling down at least one rebound. Alfonzo McKinnie had 14 points and six rebounds while Zavier Sanders added 12 points. Isaac Smith saw his most playing minutes of the season with six points and five assists. The 35 points was the highest bench production of the season and the most produced since Feb. 16, 2010 when the EIU bench scored 37 points to help in a 83-68 win at UT Martin.
McKINNEY LEADS WAY IN LAST FOUR GAMES
Senior Curry McKinney has picked up some of the offensive punch vacated by the absence of fellow senior Tyler Laser as McKinney has led EIU at 14 points per game over the last four contests. McKinney has been in double figures in three of those four games hitting 10-of-19 from 3-point range (52 percent) and pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game. For the season McKinney leads EIU with 25 steals and ranks 10th in the OVC in 3-pointers made per game.
