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EASTERN ILLINOIS (5-8, 1-1 OVC) vs. Western Illinois (7-7, 1-2 OVC)
Saturday, January 4  •  3:30 pm 
Charleston, Ill.  •  Groniger Arena

GAME INFORMATION
NOTES: EIU Compete Game Notes
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: WIU leads 85-84
LAST MEETING: @WIU 70, EIU 66 on Feb. 29, 2024

GAME 14
Eastern Illinois picked up its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season as the Panthers beat Lindenwood in overtime 78-74 to improve to 5-8 overall, 1-1 in the conference.  The Panthers led by as many as 16 points in the second half but had to hit a shot with 2.6 seconds left in regulation to force overtime before building an early lead that held up in overtime.  EIU hosts Western Illinois on Saturday in the second of four straight home OVC games at Groniger Arena.  WIU enters at 7-7 overall, 1-2 in the OVC following a road loss at SIUE on Thursday night.

FRUSTER LIGHTS OUT VERSUS LINDENWOOD
Zion Fruster was lights out in the opening half against Lindenwood on Thursday as the transfer guard was 7-of-9 from the field in the opening half including 3-of-4 from 3-point range.  Fruster scored 20 of his game high 29 points in the first 20 minutes later adding four points in the overtime session.  It was a career high at EIU for Fruster and his third straight double figure scoring game (nine total at EIU).  Fruster played the last two seasons at Division II Virginia Wise where he ranked as the team's leading scorer last season.  His collegiate career high is 34 points last January against Mars Hill when he knocked down ten field goals and went 13-for-13 at the free throw line.  Fruster leads EIU in 3-point shooting this year and is one of five OVC players to have made at least one 3-pointer in each game this year.   (OVC players on current list this season - Ray'Sean Taylor, SIUE / Josue' Grullon, UTM / Marko Maletic, WIU / Jaylon Johnson, TTU).  The NCAA record for consecutive games with a 3-pointer made is 91 set by EIU's Mack Smith. 

CURTIS WITH LATE GAME HEROICS
Obadiah Curtis has provided a nice lift off the bench for the Panthers several times this season.  The latest was on Thursday night as the transfer hit an off-balance jumper from the left side of the basket with 2.6 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime against Lindenwood.  Curtis then scored six of the Panthers 14 points in the extra session as he finished with 11 points, one of four players in double figures for EIU.  It was the second straight double figure scoring game for Curtis who scored a career high 15 points in the previous game against Blackburn College.  Curtis opened the season with back-to-back double figure games against Illinois and Earlham College with his fifth double figure game at Eastern Kentucky.  He is averaging 7.6 points per game this season.

UP NEXT
Tuesday - January 7 vs. SIUE, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)