EASTERN ILLINOIS (8-18, 4-11 OVC) vs. UT Martin (11-15, 7-8 OVC)
Saturday, February 15 • 3:30 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: EIU leads 31-29
LAST MEETING: @UTM 68, EIU 63 on Jan. 16, 2025
GAME 27
Eastern Illinois has five games remaining in the regular season as the Panthers are chasing two teams in an attempt to make this year's OVC Tournament field in Evansville on March 5-8. One of the two teams EIU is within striking distance of is UT Martin which the Panthers will host on Saturday. EIU fell to 8-18 overall, 4-11 in the OVC with a home loss on Thursday night to Tennessee State. EIU is currently tied for ninth in the OVC standings with Southern Indiana with the top eight teams making the OVC Tournament field. UT Martin is 11-15 overall, 7-8 in the OVC and tied for seventh in the league race with Lindenwood. UTM won Thursday night at SIUE. EIU holds the season tie break with Lindenwood having swept the Lions this year.
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 ten steals on Thursday against Tennessee State. It marked the eighth 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 second in the OVC and 44th in the NCAA. The Panthers currently have 222 steals and need eight steals to crack the top ten. EIU on pace to challenge the school single season record with a projected 264 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 34 steals.
FRUSTER BACK IN DOUBLE FIGURES
Zion Fruster was back in the starting line-up on Thursday night for the Panthers after coming off the bench in the last six games. A starter for much of the season Fruster missed the Jan. 23 game with Morehead State due to illness and came off the bench since that time. In his return to the starting line-up he was one of three Panthers in double figures finishing with ten points. It was his 16th double figure scoring game this season with a high of 29 against Lindenwood which included 20 first half points. He added a 23-point game the following contest against Western Illinois.
UP NEXT
Thursday - February 20 at Southern Indiana at 7:30 pm (ESPN+)
