EASTERN ILLINOIS (4-8, 0-1 OVC) vs. Lindenwood (6-7, 1-1 OVC)
Thursday, January 2 • 7:30 pm
Charleston, Ill. • Groniger Arena
GAME INFORMATION
NOTES: Complete EIU Game Notes
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: EIU leads 3-1
LAST MEETING: @EIU 72, Lindenwood 57 on Feb. 17, 2024
GAME 13
Eastern Illinois returns to Groniger Arena to ring in the New Year as the Panthers host Lindenwood on Thursday, January 2 in the first of four straight home Ohio Valley Conference games. EIU wrapped up its non-conference slate on Saturday with 99-55 win over Blackburn College to improve to 4-8 on the season including 4-0 at home this year. EIU is 0-1 in the OVC with an opening night loss at Southeast Missouri with their game at Little Rock postponed due to a death in the Little Rock program. Lindenwood enters at 6-7 on the season including 1-1 in the OVC with a home win over Western Illinois.
FIVE IN DOUBLE FIGURES AGAIN
EIU posted its second straight game with five players scoring in double figures as the Panthers beat Blackburn College on Saturday afternoon. Three of the Panthers five starters scored in double figures with
Zion Fruster (15 pts),
Kooper Jacobi (13 pts) and
Malik Olafioye (11 pts) all scoring in double figures.
Obadiah Curtis tied for team high honors with 15 points off the bench joined by
Lazar Grbovic with his first EIU double figure game finishing with 12. In the Panthers OVC opener at Southeast Missouri all five EIU starters finished in double figures scoring 67 of the Panthers 72 points in the loss to the Redhawks. It had been since November 18, 2021 against Rockford University that EIU had all five starters in double figures.
STEALS AND TURNOVERS FOR EIU
Eastern Illinois came up one steal short of matching the school record for steals in a game as the Panthers had 20 steals in Saturday's win over Blackburn College. The 20 steals led to 45 points off turnovers. The school record for steals is 21 set against Harris-Stowe (Dec. 7, 1987). It marked the fourth time this season and 25th time overall under head coach
Marty Simmons that Panthers have recorded double figure steals in a game. EIU's previous high under Simmons was 19 against Saint Mary of the Woods on November 21, 2022. EIU currently ranks second in the OVC in steals per game at 9.5 trailing Lindenwood which leads the OVC at 10.0 steals per game. The two schools also lead the OVC in turnover margin with EIU first at 3.58 and Lindenwood second at 3.46. EIU has led the OVC in steals and turnover margin each the previous two seasons.
UP NEXT
Saturday - January 4 vs. Western Illinois, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
