EASTERN ILLINOIS (3-14, 2-4 OVC) vs. Western Illinois (13-2, 5-1 OVC)
Tuesday, January 13  •  5:00 pm 
Charleston, Ill.  •  Groniger Arena

GAME INFO
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: EIU leads 37-22
LAST MEETING: WIU 78, EIU 75 on March 6, 2025 at OVC Tournament (Quarterfinals)
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes

GAME 18
Eastern Illinois scored over 70 points for the second straight game as the Panthers picked up a second straight Ohio Valley Conference win beating Tennessee State on Saturday to improve to 3-14 overall, 2-4 in the OVC.  Those two contests are the only two times EIU has scored 70 or more points this season with the previous season high of 69 in a November loss at Indiana State.  Western Illinois won its third straight game on Saturday as the Leathernecks enter the week tied for first in the OVC standings at 5-1 with a 13-2 overall record.  WIU's two losses this season are at Big Ten member Iowa and a double overtime loss on the road at UT Martin. 

LEWIS CONNECTS FOR 20
Senior Tiny Lewis played the role of hero in Thursday's win over Tennessee Tech scoring the final five points of the game including a pair of free throws with seven seconds left to lift EIU to a 75-74 win over TTU.  Lewis scored 12 points in the Thursday win which was a warm-up for her 20 point game on Saturday against Tennessee State.  Lewis was 7-of-10 from the field scoring 20 points for the second time in her EIU career (the other 21 pts against TSU last year).  The senior guard needs 17 points to reach 600 for her EIU career.  

SEEING DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Eastern Illinois had not one, but two players collect double-doubles in Saturday's win over Tennessee State as the Panthers won their second straight OVC game.  Meioshe Mason and Sydney-James Desroches both had double-doubles with the players posting identical ten point, eleven rebound games for EIU's first double-double this season.  The last time EIU had two players with double-doubles in the same game was also against Tennessee State on Feb. 22, 2024 when Macy McGlone (19 pts, 10 reb) and Miah Monahan (11 pts, 10 reb) both finished in double digits.

BLISTERING SECOND QUARTER EFFORT
Eastern Illinois shot a blistering 70.6 percent from the field on Saturday going 12-of-17 from the field and 4-of-7 from 3-point range to blow open the game against Tennessee State.  It was the second best shooting quarter this season for the Panthers behind an opening quarter of 72.7 pct at No. 22 Michigan State.  The Panthers were coming off their best complete game shooting effort on Thursday connecting for 54.4 percent against Tennessee Tech.  For the season EIU now has shot 50 percent or better in 12 total quarters.  Overall this year EIU is shooting 35.9 percent which ranks last in the OVC but during conference play that average has climbed to 37.1 percent (8th in the OVC).

UP NEXT
Thursday, January 15 at Little Rock (5 pm / ESPN+)