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EASTERN ILLINOIS (7-15, 3-8 OVC) at Lindenwood (10-12, 5-6 OVC)
Saturday, February 1  •  3:30 pm 
St. Charles, Mo.  •  Hyland 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 4-1
LAST MEETING: @EIU 78, Lindenwood 74 (ot) on Jan. 2, 2025

GAME 23
Eastern Illinois won back to back OVC games for the first time this season as the Panthers went on the road for a 71-59 win over Western Illinois.  It was the second straight game away from home in a five-game road swing that started on Monday with a win over Little Rock to snap what had been a seven-game losing streak by EIU.   The Panthers improved to 7-15 overall, 3-8 in the OVC.   EIU plays Saturday at Lindenwood making their second trip this week to Hyland Arena.   The Lions beat SIUE on Thursday night and sit squarely in the middle of the OVC conference race with a 10-12 overall record, 5-6 in the OVC. 

BALANCED SCORING LEADS TO WIN
Balanced scoring helped carry Eastern Illinois to Thursday night's 71-59 win over Western Illinois as the Panthers have won back-to-back games.  EIU had four of its five starters finish in double figures led by Artese Stapleton with 16.  Nakyel Shelton scored 15 followed by Kooper Jacobi with 14 and Corey Sawyer Jr with 12.  Obadiah Curtis scored ten off the bench to round out the double figure production.  It was the fourth time this season and second time in OVC play this year that EIU has had five or more players score in double figures.  Against Southeast Missouri all five Panthers starters were in double figures.  EIU had six in double figures against Earlham College and five against Blackburn College.   Last season EIU had just one game with five or more players scoring in double figures during the win over St. Louis Pharmacy.

CURTIS WITH A LIFT OFF THE BENCH
Obadiah Curtis continues to be EIU's most consistent scorer off the bench showing that once again on Thursday night as one of five Panthers in double figures in the win at Western Illinois.  Curtis finished with ten points pulling down four rebounds with three assists.  It was the third straight game Curtis has provided solid production as he is shooting 69 percent over the last three games averaging 8.3 points per game in those contests.  He has six total double figure scoring games this season including 11 earlier this year in the overtime win over Lindenwood where he scored with 2.6 seconds left to force overtime and had six of EIU's 14 points in the extra session. 

UP NEXT
Saturday - February 1 at Lindenwood at 3:30 pm (ESPN+)