EASTERN ILLINOIS (8-10, 2-3 OVC) at Lindenwood (7-10, 1-3 OVC)
Saturday, Jan. 20 • 3:30 pmÂ
St. Charles, Mo. • Hyland Arena
GAME INFO
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: Series Tied 1-1
LAST MEETING: @LWU 80, EIU 67 on Feb. 2, 2023
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes
GAME 19
Eastern Illinois looks to bounce back from a pair of home weekend Ohio Valley Conference losses as the Panthers play just once this week with a Saturday road game at Lindenwood. EIU fell to 8-10 overall, 2-3 in the OVC as they hosted the league's two co-leaders entering the week in Morehead State and Western Illinois. Following the single road game at Lindenwood, the Panthers are home for their next four games at Groniger Arena and play two games each week for the remainder of the regular season. Lindenwood has played at home just one time for OVC play and enters the week at 7-10 overall, 1-3 in the OVC. The Lions host SIUE on Thursday before entertaining EIU on Saturday afternoon.
PANTHERS WITH DOUBLE DIGIT STEALS AGAIN
Eastern Illinois recorded double digit steals for the seventh time this season on Saturday finishing with ten against Western Illinois. The ten steals helped the Panthers post a 20-1 points off turnovers advantage which kept EIU in the game despite shooting less than 40 percent from the floor. It was the second time EIU has posted double figure steals in OVC play with ten at UT Martin.  They currently lead the OVC in steals per game at 8.1 after leading the league last season at 8.2 per game and setting a school single season record with 260 total steals. Three EIU players rank in the top 20 for individual steals with Tiger Booker the OVC leader with 33 (2.4 spg) followed by
Corey Sawyer Jr in ninth with 20 (1.3 spg) and
Kyndall Davis in 16th with 20 (1.1 spg).  Last season
Sincere Malone led the OVC with 62 steals.
VALUE THE BASKETBALL
Eastern Illinois was able to value the basketball in Saturday's game against Western Illinois as the Panthers had just one turnover in the first half and ended the game with four total turnovers.  It marked the third straight game EIU has had single digit turnovers and fourth time overall in OVC play.  EIU is averaging 11.1 turnovers per game for the season with that number ranking second in the OVC.  The turnover total has dropped to 7.8 turnovers per game in conference action.  EIU is currently 28th in the NCAA in turnover margin (3.9-to-1) and guard Tiger Booker is the OVC leader. The last time EIU had four or fewer turnovers in a game was four against Fontbonne on Nov. 24, 2017.  The last time EIU had three straight games with single digit turnovers was late January of 2016.
UP NEXT
Thursday, January 25 vs. Tennessee Tech - 7:30 pm (ESPN+)
