EASTERN ILLINOIS (8-5) vs Jacksonville State (8-7, 1-0 OVC)
Saturday, Dec. 31 • 3:15 p.m.
Charleston, Ill. • Lantz Arena (5,200)
EIU Game Notes | Listen Live - Hit Mix 88.9 | Live Stats | Watch Live - OVC Digital Network |
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 FM
TV: OVCDigitalNetwork.com
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: EIU leads 12-7
LAST MEETING: EIU 75, @JSU 64 - Jan. 2, 2016
GAME 14
Eastern Illinois will open Ohio Valley Conference play at home on Saturday as the Panthers host Jacksonville State. EIU went 8-5 during the non-conference marking the fourth time in the school's NCAA Division I history the program has won eight or more games prior to opening league play. Included in those eight wins is a road victory at Missouri, the Panthers third all-time win over a Power 5 Conference team. Jacksonville State was 7-7 in the non-conference and opened OVC play on Thursday night with a 90-72 win at UT Martin to improve to 8-7 overall, 1-0 in the league.
DAMA BIG GAME ON THE BOARDS
Muusa Dama had a big night on the boards in the Panthers last game prior to the Holiday Break. Dama pulled down 18 rebounds in the double overtime loss at Indiana State. It was the first time an EIU player has had 18 or more rebounds in a game since Sherman Blanford hauled in 18 at Austin Peay on Feb. 13, 2014. The last EIU player with 20 or more rebounds in a game was Michael Slaughter with 20 at Central Connecticut on Jan. 14, 1995. In addition to his big rebounding night, Dama posted his third double-double of the season with 13 points. Dama swatted away a season high five shots as he moved his season total to 29 blocks. Dama leads the OVC in blocks and needs one block to tie Todd Bergmann for 10th on the EIU single season list. He needs two blocks to tie
Luke Piotrowski in ninth and four blocks to tie Chris Olivier in eighth.
OVC OPENERS
Eastern Illinois will open its 21st season as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference when the Panthers host Jacksonville State on Saturday afternoon. EIU is 9-11 all-time in OVC openers but has posted a 7-3 record in conference openers played at home in Lantz Arena. This will be the first time that EIU has opened a conference season playing Jacksonville State. EIU has won two of its last three OVC openers with both wins at home.
UP NEXT
Thursday - January 5 at Morehead State, 6:45 p.m.
