EASTERN ILLINOIS (9-17, 5-10 OVC) at UT Martin (9-19, 4-11 OVC)
Saturday, Feb. 17 • 6 p.m.
Martin, Tenn. • Elam Center
EIU GAME NOTES: Notes Link
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 FM
TV: OVC Digital Network
LIVE STATS: www.utmsports.com
SERIES RECORD: EIU leads 23-22
LAST MEETING: @EIU 80, UT Martin 60 on Jan. 18, 2018
GAME 27
Eastern Illinois travels to UT Martin on Saturday evening as the Panthers play their final Ohio Valley Conference road game of the season. EIU dropped to 9-17 overall, 5-10 in the OVC following an 80-73 loss on Thursday night at Southeast Missouri. UT Martin has lost two straight falling to 9-19 overall, 4-11 in the OVC. The Skyhawks lost a one point game to SIUE on Thursday night in the final seconds. EIU could lock up a spot in the OVC Tournament with a win over UTM on Saturday as they Panthers would then own the tournament tiebreaker.
JACKSON RETURNS
D'Angelo Jackson returned to action for Eastern Illinois for the first time in six weeks after suffering a severe foot injury in the opening minutes of the Panthers December 30 game at Austin Peay. Jackson came off the bench to score 13 points including making 7-of-8 shots at the free throw line. It was the sixth time this season that Jackson has scored in double figures with a high of 19 points against Western Illinois. Despite missing 13 games this season Jackson is second on the EIU team in free throws attempted, one behind team leader
Jajuan Starks.
STARTING LINE-UP COMBINATIONS
Eastern Illinois head coach
Jay Spoonhour shifted his starting line-up on Thursday night at Southeast Missouri as the Panthers had their 11th different starting combination this season on the floor. EIU is currently 13th in the NCAA for the most starting line-ups this season. The national lead is held by both Bryant and Siena with both schools featuring 17 different starting line-up combinations this year. UT Martin is the OVC leader in starting line-up combinations with the Skyhawks tied for third in the NCAA with 16 different line-ups. This season EIU has had a total of five players miss 44 games due to injury including all four point guards.
UP NEXT
Thursday, February 22 vs. Murray State - 7:30 p.m.
