EASTERN ILLINOIS (10-11, 4-4 OVC) vs. UT Martin (12-9, 5-3 OVC)
Thursday, Feb. 1 • 7:30 pm
Charleston, Ill. • Groniger Arena
GAME INFO
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: EIU leads 31-27
LAST MEETING: EIU 79, @UTM 72 on Jan. 4, 2024
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes
GAME 22
Eastern Illinois looks to rebound following a tough home loss to Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers are now 10-11 overall, 4-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference. EIU is just one game behind four-teams tied for third place in the league standings as the top eight teams qualify for the OVC Tournament at the end of the year in Evansville. EIU will be looking for a season sweep over UT Martin after beating the Skyhawks back in early January, 79-72. UTM enters at 12-9 overall, 5-3 in the OVC having won three of their last four.
SHELTON WITH ANOTHER SOLID GAME
Nakyel Shelton tied for game-high honors for Eastern Illinois on Saturday against Tennessee State finishing with 18 points. It was the seventh time this season the junior has finished a game as the Panthers leading scorer and third time in OVC play. Shelton now has five straight double figure scoring games in OVC play and over his last four games is averaging 15.5 points per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field. Shelton now has 12 double scoring games this season and 35 for his collegiate counting one season at NAIA member Cardinal Stritch. In addition to his scoring, Shelton pulled down seven rebounds to lead EIU. It was the third time he has led EIU this season in rebounding with a high of 12 in the previous meeting with UT Martin.
BOOKER DOUBLE FIGURE STREAK
On Thursday night against Tennessee Tech, Tiger Booker scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half helping lift the Panthers to their first home conference win this season. It was the second time this season Booker had scored 24 points in the second half after first accomplishing that feat in EIU's early January road win at Little Rock when his finished with 31 points. On Saturday Booker tied teammate
Nakyel Shelton for team-high honors finishing with 18 points as he shot 50 percent from the field and was 2-of-2 from the foul line. Booker has scored in double figures in seven straight games and ranks fifth in the OVC in scoring in conference games only at 19 points per game. Overall for the season Booker ranks 10th in the conference in scoring while also landing in the league top ten for assists (8th), free throw percentage (4th) and steals (1st). Booker had two steals against Tennessee State giving him 39 for the season. He now has steals in eight straight games. At the foul line Booker has also turned up his production over the last six games going 40-of-44 (90.9 pct) in those contests.
UP NEXT
Saturday, February 3 vs. Little Rock - 3:30 pm (ESPN+)
