EASTERN ILLINOIS (10-19, 6-12 OVC) vs. Little Rock (18-11, 12-6 OVC)
Thursday, February 27  •  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: EIU leads 4-3
LAST MEETING: EIU 56, Little Rock 54 on Jan. 27, 2025 at St. Charles, Mo.
 

Eastern Illinois opens its final homestand of the season on Thursday as the Panthers prepare to host two of the top three teams in the OVC standings this week.  EIU starts on Thursday hosting Little Rock.  The Panthers won both games last week on the road improving to 10-19 overall, 6-12 in the OVC.  EIU has found success away from Groniger Arena in OVC play going 4-5 on the road with an additional neutral site win over Little Rock.  The Trojans enter at 18-11 overall, 12-6 in the OVC as they are tied for second in the league standings. 

Senior Nakyel Shelton has enjoyed playing against Morehead State this season as the guard led EIU with 25 points during Saturday's road win over the Eagles.   Shelton was 8-of-11 from the field including 2-of-2 from 3-point range and 7-of-9 at the free throw line.  During the Panthers January 23 game against Morehead State in Charleston, Shelton exploded for 38 points which is the best scoring total in the OVC this season and the best point total for an EIU player since 2004.  In the two games this season against Morehead State Shelton is averaging 31.5 points per game shooting 70.9 percent from the field, 70 percent from 3-point range and 85.7 percent from the foul line.  Heading into the last week of the season Shelton is currently fifth in the OVC in scoring average at 16.3 points per game.

Sixth year player Artese Stapleton was clutch down the stretch in Saturday's road win at Morehead State.  Stapleton made a key driving lay-up late in the second half while also going 9-for-9 from the free throw line to finish with 13 points.  It was the third straight double figure scoring game for Stapleton who is averaging 10.6 points per game for the season.  Stapleton has increased his free throw shooting over those last three games as well going 18-of-19 from the stripe in those games as he is shooting 71.4 percent on free throws this season, 12th in the OVC.  He matched his season high of 17 points in Thursday's road win at Southern Indiana and has produced 76 double figure games in his six-year NCAA college career. 

Saturday - March 1 vs. Southeast Missouri, 3:30 pm (ESPN+)