EASTERN ILLINOIS (18-12) vs. Drake (22-12)
Monday, November 3  •  12 pm 
Charleston, Ill.  •  Groniger Arena

RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: DRAKE leads 12-6
LAST MEETING: @DRAKE 66, EIU 62 on Feb. 6, 1992
NOTES: EIU Complete Notes

GAME 1
Eastern Illinois opens the 2025-26 season at home in Groniger Arena after opening the previous two seasons on the road.  The Panthers are coming off an 18-12 season including a 15-5 record in the Ohio Valley Conference.  EIU had its 2024-25 season come to an end in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinals.  EIU got off to a great start in conference play opening OVC play at 10-0 before closing the year 5-5 in conference play.  EIU faces a former Gateway Conference rival to open this season as the Drake Bulldogs come to Charleston.  Drake posted 22 wins last season ending its year with an opening round loss in the WBIT Tournament to Marquette.

PANTHERS JUMP IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL
Like many schools around the country Eastern Illinois jumped into the transfer portal to replace some pieces lost due to graduation last year as the Panthers had five seniors on the 2024-25 roster.  During the off-season EIU added transfer guards Ava Stoller (SIUE) and Clara Glad (UC Davis) along with post players Meioshe Mason (Middle Tennessee) and Abbie Boutilier (Texas).  Those four players join Kennedy Davis as transfer players on the EIU roster, Davis sat last season due to injury after transferring from Tennessee State. 

HOME OPENERS
Eastern Illinois opens the 2025-26 season at home in Groniger Arena marking the first time since the 2022-23 season EIU has played its season opener at home.   EIU enters the game riding a seven game winning streak in home openers with the last loss coming to Northern Illinois to open the 2017-18 season at home.  In addition Eastern Illinois went undefeated at home last season and enters the year with a 16-game home win streak dating back to the end of the 2023-24 season, that streak is currently tied for the 11th longest in the NCAA. Norfolk State holds the current longest win streak in the NCAA at 26 games followed by Texas and TCU both at 24. EIU's school record for consecutive home wins is 28 set between the 1980-82 seasons. 

REPLACING PRODUCTION
Eastern Illinois enters the 2025-26 season looking to replace several key pieces from last year's 18-win team.  Gone to graduation are two-time OVC Player of the Year Macy McGlone and last year's OVC Defensive Player of the year Kiyley Flowers.  All told EIU lost 56 percent of its scoring from last year's team and 53 percent of its rebounding.  EIU's top returning scorer from last season is Lalani Ellis at 7.7 points per game.