EASTERN ILLINOIS (3-8) vs. Blackburn College (0-9)
Saturday, December 28 • 2 pm
Charleston, Ill. • Groniger Arena
GAME INFORMATION
NOTES; EIU Complete Game Notes
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: EIU leads 4-0
LAST MEETING: @EIU 87, Blackburn 66 on Dec 17, 2023
GAME 12
Eastern Illinois opened Ohio Valley Conference play on the road on December 19 at Southeast Missouri. The Panthers then made the trip to Little Rock, Arkansas but had their December 21 game with the Trojans postponed due to a tragic loss of a member of the Little Rock program. At this time a reschedule date has not been set but both teams along with the OVC are looking for a mutual date that works for both. EIU will host Blackburn College for its final non-conference game of the season dropping this game in before returning to OVC play on January 2. EIU is 3-8 on the season with a 3-0 record at Groniger Arena. Blackburn College, an NCAA Division III program, will play this game as an exhibition. The Beavers are 0-9 on the season.
ALL FIVE STARTERS IN DOUBLE FIGURES
EIU had all five starters finish in double figures on Thursday at Southeast Missouri as the quintet combined for 67 of the Panthers 72 points in the OVC opener. It marked the second time this season that EIU has had five or more players score in double figures after six players reached double figures in the early season home win over Earlham College. In that contest four of EIU's five starters reached double figures with two additional double figure games from
Obadiah Curtis and
Isaiah Griffin off the bench. The last time EIU had all five starters finish in double figures was Nov. 18, 2021 in a home win over Rockford University in head coach
Marty Simmons first season. Sammy Friday IV led six total EIU players in double figures with 21 points.
JACOBI WITH ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Kooper Jacobi put together his second straight double-double of the season as the graduate student finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the OVC opener at Southeast Missouri. The game comes on the heels of a ten point, 13 rebound game at Eastern Kentucky. Jacobi currently leads the OVC in both rebounding at 9.3 rebounds per game and in offensive rebounds with 37. He has been on the cusp of double-doubles in two additional games finishing with nine rebounds at both Northwestern and Valparaiso. His season high was 16 rebounds in a double-double against Northern Illinois (19 pts). Jacobi has scored in double figures in eight straight games and ranks tenth in the OVC in field goal percentage and fourth in free throw percentage.
UP NEXT
Thursday - January 2 vs. Lindenwood, 7:30 pm (ESPN+)
