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OVC TOURNAMANT NOTES UPDATE – EASTERN ILLINOIS
Eastern Illinois (17-13) vs. Belmont (19-10)
approx. 8 p.m. - Thursday, March 5 at Nashville Municipal Auditorium

Eastern Illinois won its first OVC Tournament game since 2010 on Wednesday night with a first round victory over SIU Edwardsville.  It was only the second win for EIU in tournament games played in Nashville since 2001 when the Panthers won the OVC Tournament and advanced to their 2nd NCAA Tournament. 

Eastern Illinois had two players score 20 or more points in a game for the first time in two seasons.  Chris Olivier had 24 points and Cornell Johnston scored 22 during the win over SIUE.  The last time that happened was Feb. 14, 2013 against Austin Peay with Morris Woods and Alex Austin reaching double figures. 

Eastern Illinois and Belmont will be meeting for the sixth time in school history.  The Bruins lead the all-time series 3-2 including a 2-1 series advantage as OVC members.  EIU won the first meeting this season in Charleston, 84-73, as the Panthers shot 59 percent from the field.  EIU held Belmont to 38 percent shooting including 7-of-43 from 3-point range.  Five players scored in double figures for EIU in the win. 

Cornell Johnston continues to be solid from 3-point range as the OVC Freshman of the Year was 5-of-6 from3-point range in the win over SIUE on Wednesday.  It was the second time this season Johnston has made 5-of-6 in a game (vs. UT Martin – Feb. 19) as he leads the OVC in 3-point field goal percentage this season at 54.2 percent. The freshman has now made at least one 3-pointer in 14 straight games.  The last game without a 3-pointer made was a 0-for-1 game against Belmont and Jan. 10. 

Chris Olivier has been a force since returning after a six-game absence due to mononucleosis.  After scoring nine points in the first game at SIUE on Feb. 14, Olivier has scored 20 or more points in three of the Panthers four games.  Against SIUE on Wednesday he was 10-of-13 from the field.    He is shooting 63.3 percent over the last five games (38-of-60). 

Reggie Smith continues to play well off the bench as the senior had 13 points off the bench during the win over SIUE in the opening round of the OVC Tournament.  Smith has nine double figure games this season with eight of those coming off the bench.  He was an All-OVC Newcomer selection last season but has been solid in a role off the bench this season to average 7.6 points per game. 

Trae Anderson earned second team All-OVC honors earlier this week.  On Wednesday against SIUE he scored in double figures for the 17th time in the last 21 games.  Anderson finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. 

Josh Piper became the EIU career leader in games played on Wednesday against SIUE.  He has now played in 121 games at EIU.  Piper ranks 10th on the EIU career blocked shots list and 14th on the EIU career 3-pointers made list. 

EIU held SIUE to 39 percent shooting on Wednesday night.  It marked the 17th time this season EIU has held an opponent under 40 percent shooting.  EIU is 15-2 in those games as they lead the OVC in both field goal percentage defense (.403) and scoring defense (62.2 ppg). 

EIU shot 50 percent from the field on Wednesday night marking the ninth time this season EIU has shot 50 percent or better in a game.  EIU is 9-0 in those contests.