EASTERN ILLINOIS (6-6) vs. North Alabama (3-10)
Sunday, December 30 • 2 pm
Charleston, Ill. • Lantz Arena
EIU GAME NOTES: PDF Link
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 FM
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: First Meeting
LAST MEETING: First Meeting
GAME 13
Eastern Illinois returns home to open a three-game stretch of games which begins Sunday afternoon hosting North Alabama. The three games will also include the start of the Ohio Valley Conference season on Thursday, Jan. 3 with the Panthers hosting UT Martin. EIU is 6-6 on the season after a road loss at Iowa State just before the Holiday break. With a win against North Alabama, the Panthers would wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule with a winning record for the third time in the last five seasons. North Alabama is 3-10 on the season as the Lions are in the process of transitioning from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I. UNA plays on Friday night at nationally ranked Gonzaga before coming to Charleston.
SHAREEF SMITH SCORES AT IOWA STATE
On a night when things did not go in Eastern Illinois favor, junior guard
Shareef Smith was one of the Panthers bright spots finishing with a season high 15 points. It was the second straight double figure game for Smith who is fifth on the team in scoring at 8.1 points per game. Smith also had double figure games earlier in the season at IUPUI and against Western Illinois. In addition to scoring, Smith is the team leader in assists averaging 3.1 per game. He is averaging 4.3 assists per game over the last six games.
LUCAS JONES DRAINS LATE 3'S
Lucas Jones was 2-of-2 from 3-point range at Iowa State as the senior forward finished with a season high eight points against the Cyclones. Jones was 3-of-4 from the field as he scored for the first time since a four-point night against Fontbonne on Dec. 4. Jones is 6-of-10 from 3-point range this season and earlier this year was 2-of-2 from 3-point range in the overtime win against Arkansas State at the visitcurrituckOBX.com Battle in the Blue Ridge in Asheville, N.C.
UP NEXT
Thursday, January 3 vs. UT Martin at 7:30 pm (ESPN+)
