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EASTERN ILLINOIS (8-17, 4-10 OVC) vs. Tennessee State (12-13, 8-6 OVC)
Thursday, February 13  •  7:30 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: TSU leads 38-26
LAST MEETING: @TSU 84, EIU 65 on Jan. 18, 2025

GAME 26
Eastern Illinois returns home to host Tennessee State after the Panthers played their last five games on the road covering a distance of 1,800 miles to play the contests.  EIU opened the five game swing with three straight wins but lost the last two games this past week at SIUE and Tennessee Tech falling to 8-17 overall, 4-10 in the OVC.  EIU has six games remaining in the OVC regular season with four of the six contests at home in Groniger Arena where the Panthers are just 1-5 in home OVC games this season.  Tennessee State comes into the game following a pair of wins last week improving to 12-13 overall, 8-6 in the OVC.  The Tigers have won seven of their last nine games with the two losses both coming in overtime to OVC co-leaders SIUE and Southeast Missouri.

STEALS RECORD BOOK CHASE IS ON
Eastern Illinois is on pace to once again post a school season Top 10 mark in steals as the Panthers had 11 steals on Saturday at Tennessee Tech.  It marked the seventh time this season EIU has had ten or more steals in a game with a season high of 20 against Blackburn College.  EIU has led the OVC in steals each of the last two seasons setting the school single season record for steals two years ago with 260 and the second best mark in school history last year at 258.  EIU is averaging 8.5 steals per game this season which is third in the OVC and 45th in the NCAA.   The Panthers currently have 212 steals and are on pace to challenge the school single season record with a projected 263 steals.  This year EIU is doing it by committee with five players with 20 or more steals.  Nakyel Shelton is the leader of that group with 33 steals.

KALLE WITH NICE LIFT OFF THE BENCH AT TTU
Senior forward Sekou Kalle had his best game in an Eastern Illinois uniform this season as he came off the bench at Tennessee Tech to score a season high eight points while pulling down four rebounds, three on the offensive glass.  Kalle's previous high this season was four points against Blackburn College and at Tennessee State.  The four points at TSU (Jan. 18 / 7 games) marked the last time Kalle had scored this season.  A transfer this season, Kalle scored in his first four games this season off the bench and is shooting 42.3 percent from the field.

UP NEXT
Saturday - February 15 vs. UT Martin at 3:30 pm (ESPN+)