EASTERN ILLINOIS (8-19, 4-12 OVC) at Southern Indiana (9-17, 4-12 OVC)
Thursday, February 20 • 7:30 pm
Evansville, Ind. • Liberty Arena
GAME INFORMATION
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: USI leads 4-3
LAST MEETING: USI 64, @EIU 60 on Jan. 25, 2025
GAME 28
Eastern Illinois heads into the final four games of the regular season starting on Thursday night at Southern Indiana. The game is a must-win for both teams to keep their hopes alive for qualifying for the OVC Tournament in March. Both EIU and USI are tied for ninth in the OVC standings with Western Illinois, all three teams holding a 4-12 record in OVC play. EIU fell to 8-19 overall after a tough home loss on Saturday to UT Martin. Southern Indiana has lost six straight following an overtime loss on Saturday at Lindenwood and hosts EIU with a 9-17 overall record including a 7-6 record at home.
SHELTON WITH BIG NIGHT FROM 3
Nakyel Shelton posted his eleventh 20-point scoring game of his two-year Eastern Illinois career on Saturday afternoon as the senior finished with 25 points. It was the sixth time this season Shelton has eclipsed the 20-point mark including a career-high 38 points back in January against Morehead State. Shelton knocked down 6-of-10 shots from 3-point range as he became the Panthers leader in 3-pointers made this season with 37. In his 38-point performance against Morehead State, Shelton knocked down five 3-pointers in the game. He climbed up to fourth in the OVC in scoring this season and ranks in the top ten in both field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Shelton is 88-of-106 from the free throw line this season with his 106 free throw attempts ranking fifth in the OVC.
STAPLETON BACK IN DOUBLE FIGURES
Artese Stapleton returned to double figures on Saturday against UT Martin as the sixth year player scored 16 points going 5-of-9 from the floor and 2-of-4 from 3-point range. Stapleton recently went over the 1,400 point mark for his collegiate career and had 1,424 career points to date with 74 career double figure scoring games. This season Stapleton is currently averaging just over double figures at 10.2 points per game with a season high of 17 points against Earlham College. Over the last seven games, Stapleton has added solid 3-point shooting to his scoring output going 10-for-22 (45.5 percent) over those contests with an 11.4 points per game average.
UP NEXT
Saturday - February 22 at Morehead State at 2:30 pm (ESPN+)
