EASTERN ILLINOIS (5-21, 3-10 OVC) at Belmont (22-5, 12-2 OVC)
Thursday, Feb. 17 • 7:15 pm
Nashville, Tenn. • Curb Event Center
EIU GAME NOTES: PDF Link
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 FM WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: Belmont leads 13-2
LAST MEETING: Belmont 90, @Eastern Illinois 56 on Jan. 24, 2022
GAME 27
Eastern Illinois continues its four-game road swing on Thursday night with a the first of two games in Nashville as the Panthers play at Belmont. EIU lost on Monday evening at Austin Peay falling to 5-21 overall, 3-10 in the OVC. The game was the last of four COVID make-ups for the Panthers, EIU going 0-4 in those contests. EIU plays at Tennessee State on Saturday and closes out the road trip on Monday night at SIUE. Belmont is one of the hottest teams in the OVC having won eight straight to stand at 22-5 overall, 12-2 in the OVC.
BIZIMANA WITH A DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Paul Bizimana became the third different EIU player to pick up a double-double this season as he finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds at Austin Peay. Bizimana has seven double figure scoring games in OVC play this season and leads EIU in OVC scoring at 11.8 points per game. His season high was 22 points at Murray State.
LUERS CONNECTS AT THE FOUL LINE
Dan Luers had a big night at the free throw line as the transfer guard was 10-of-11 at the stripe finishing with 16 points. As a team EIU was 24-of-31 at Austin Peay. It was the fourth straight double figure scoring game for Luers who is averaging 12.7 points per game over those four games. Luers did not attempt a 3-pointer at APSU and leads the OVC in 3-point field goal percentage for conference games at 60 percent.
EIU GOES 0-FROM-3-POINT RANGE
After knocking down 11 3-pointers in their home win over UT Martin on Saturday, Eastern Illinois was cold from 3-point range on Monday at Austin Peay as the Panthers finished 0-for-11 from 3-point range. The last time EIU did not hit a 3-pointer in a game was Feb. 23, 2012 at Morehead State, an 0-for-17 night (a stretch of 302 games). Ironically, EIU had an 0-for-4 night from 3-point range earlier in the 2012 season at Jacksonville State.
UP NEXT
Saturday, February 19 at Tennessee State, 3 pm (ESPN+)
