EASTERN ILLINOIS (9-12, 5-5 OVC) vs. UT Martin (15-5, 7-2 OVC)
Thursday, January 29  •  7:30 pm 
Charleston, Ill.  •  Groniger Arena

GAME INFO
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: Series Tied 31-31
LAST MEETING: @UT Martin 65, Eastern Illinois 61 on January 3, 2026
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes

GAME 22
Eastern Illinois picked up its first road win of the season last Thursday in overtime at Southern Indiana but could not make it two straight on the road falling in a hard fought 73-68 contest at Morehead State.  EIU ended the first half of the OVC schedule at 9-12 overall, 5-5 in the OVC.  The Panthers start the second half of the schedule on Thursday hosting OVC leader UT Martin followed by Southeast Missouri on Saturday.  EIU lost on the road to both teams after holding leads at the half.  UT Martin enters at 15-5 overall, 7-2 in the OVC as their Saturday game with Little Rock was postponed due to weather (make-up February 3)

PRESTON DROPPING IN 3'S
Junior college transfer Preston Turner continues to be hot from 3-point range as he is shooting 72.2 percent from behind the arc over the last six games.  In three of those contests he has knocked down four 3-pointers including a 4-for-5 day from long range on Saturday at Morehead State.  In the game Turner matched his season high of 18 points for his tenth double figure scoring game this season.  Turner is now 10th in the OVC in 3-pointers made while shooting 48.5 percent from long range and 50.4 percent overall from the floor. 

MEECHIE COLLECTING STEALS
Guard Meechie White has been one of the Panthers top defensive guards this season leading the team with 42 steals which ranks fourth in the OVC at 2.0 steals per game.  On Saturday at Morehead State he had his second game this season with five steals (also 5 at UT Martin) giving him 13 games with multiple steals this season.  Offensively White was held to six points at Morehead State, his sixth straight single digit scoring game.  White has seven double figure contests this year with a high of 23 at Purdue and 21 versus SIUE.

SOLID AT THE STRIPE
Eastern Illinois had another solid performance at the free throw line on Saturday going 20-of-24 at Morehead State to finish at an 83.3 percent clip.  For the season EIU leads the OVC in free throw percentage at 74.9 percent.  It was the third time this season EIU has made 20 or more free throws in a game with a high of 25 at Valparaiso in the season opener.  It was the eighth time EIU has shot 80 percent or better from the line.  Zion Fruster is the individual OVC free throw leader at 86.3 percent.  EIU's best single season free throw percentage was 77.5 pct in 2000-01.

UP NEXT
Saturday - January 31, 2026 vs. Southeast Missouri (3:30 pm / ESPN+)