EASTERN ILLINOIS (5-22, 3-11 OVC) at Tennessee State (11-16, 6-9 OVC)
Saturday, Feb. 19 • 3 pm
Nashville, Tenn. • Gentry Center
EIU GAME NOTES: PDF Link
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 FM WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: TSU leads 32-26
LAST MEETING: @EIU 62, TSU 57 on Jan. 29, 2022
GAME 28
Eastern Illinois plays the second of two in the Music City on Saturday as the Panthers wrap up their road trip to Nashville with a game at Tennessee State. EIU is in the stretch of playing four road games in eight days having dropped the first two of the road trip on Monday at Austin Peay and Thursday night at Belmont. EIU enters at 5-22 overall, 3-11 in the OVC. TSU picked up a home win over SIUE on Thursday night as the Tigers improved to 11-16 overall, 6-9 in the OVC. TSU is 7-5 at home this season including 4-4 in home conference games.
FRIDAY PERFECT FROM THE FIELD
Sammy Friday IV has played two games in his EIU career at Belmont. In both games, Friday has turned in two of his better shooting performances. Last season at Belmont, Friday had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds as he finished 9-of-12 from the floor. This season Friday had 13 points in EIU's game at Belmont going 6-of-6 from the line. Friday is now shooting 62.7 percent from the field this season.
CHARLES BACK IN DOUBLE FIGURES
Guard
Kashawn Charles scored a season high 27 points in last Saturday's home win over UT Martin knocking down six 3-pointers to move into a tie for 10th on the EIU career 3-pointers made list. On Monday, Charles was 0-for-4 from beyond the arc at Austin Peay as EIU did not hit a 3-pointer as a team during the game in Clarksville. In the first half at Belmont on Thursday evening Charles moved into sole possession of 10th as he was 3-of-7 from 3-point range finishing with 15 points. It was the seventh time this season he has made three or more 3-pointers in a game. Charles is currently seventh in the OVC in 3-pointers made with 42.
LOW FREE THROW ATTEMPTS
A game after getting to the free throw line a season high 31 times and knocking down 24, the most for the Panthers since the 2018-19 season, EIU was held to its second lowest free throw total of the season on Thursday night at Belmont. EIU had just five free throw attempts at Belmont making three of those shots as EIU is shooting 63.5 percent from the stripe as a team this year. EIU's season low for attempts was four against UAlbany. EIU was 22-of-30 at the line during the Panthers Jan. 29 win over Tennessee State.
UP NEXT
Monday, February 21 at SIUE, 7 pm (ESPN+)
