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EASTERN ILLINOIS (5-11, 2-7 OVC) vs UT Martin (4-9, 2-7 OVC)
Thursday, Jan. 28 •  8 pm 
Martin, Tenn.  •  Elam Center

EIU GAME NOTES: PDF Link
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 FM
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: EIU leads 27-24
LAST MEETING: @UTM 80, EIU 79 (ot) on Feb. 15, 2020

GAME 17
Eastern Illinois heads to UT Martin on Thursday night as the Panthers will play with a shortened roster for the third straight game.  EIU had only seven available players on Tuesday as EIU lost to SIUE, 87-74, to drop to 5-11 overall, 2-7 in the OVC.   After opening the month of January with back-to-back wins, EIU has now lost six straight.  UT Martin snapped a nine-game losing streak of its own on Tuesday sweeping its season series with Southeast Missouri to improved to 4-9 overall, 2-7 in the OVC.  EIU is expected to gain a few players back for its Saturday game at SEMO.

JOHNSON SCORES WITH A FLURRY 
Marvin Johnson led Eastern Illinois in scoring for the fourth time in the last five games on Tuesday night pouring in 28 points against SIUE.   Johnson scored 20 of his 28 points in the second half as he has now scored 20 or more points in three games this season.  Johnson has climbed to eighth in the OVC in scoring at 14.5 points per game with his OVC only production rising to 17.6 points per game where he ranks fourth.  This season he has collected three double-doubles and currently ranks in the OVC Top 20 in all five major statistical categories: 8th in scoring, 16th in rebounding, 6th in assists, 6th in steals and 14th in blocks. 

DEANG REACHES DOUBLE FIGURES
Deang Deang continues his return to form for the Panthers after suffering a season ending Achilles injury last December (2019) at Milwaukee.  The injury sidelined him for more than a year with his return to the EIU line-up on Dec. 30 at Eastern Kentucky.  Deang made his first start of the season on Tuesday against SIUE finishing with 11 points.  He was 5-of-8 from the field adding three rebounds.  Last season Deang appeared in ten games making five starts prior to the injury.  He averaged 9.5 points per game and was leading the team with 17 steals.  He now has five career double figure scoring games with a high of 21 against Chicago State.  

UP NEXT
Saturday, Jan. 30 at Southeast Missouri, 5 pm (ESPN+)