EASTERN ILLINOIS (5-10, 2-3 OVC) vs. Tennessee State (10-5, 4-1 OVC)
Saturday, January 10  •  3:30 pm 
Charleston, Ill.  •  Groniger Arena

GAME INFO
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: TSU leads 39-26
LAST MEETING: Tennessee State 66, @EIU 49 on February 13, 2025
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes

GAME 16
Eastern Illinois closed out Thursday's win with its best second half effort this season scoring 42 second half points while shooting 57.1 percent from the field in the closing 20 minutes.  The result gave EIU its third straight home win as the Panthers improved to 5-10 overall, 2-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference.  The Panthers will host one of the league's top teams on Saturday as Tennessee State comes to Charleston at 10-5 overall, 4-1 in the OVC.  The Tigers have won three straight and are locked in a four-way tie for first place in the OVC standings.  This is the second of three straight home games for EIU as they host Western Illinois on Tuesday.

BALANCED SCORING LEADS TO WIN
Eastern Illinois had five players score in double figures on Thursday night helping the Panthers pick up the 71-61 win over Tennessee Tech.  Andre Washington led the way with 20 points followed by Meechie White with 13 points.  Kooper Jacobi (11), Zion Fruster (10) and Preston Turner (10) rounded out the double figure scorers which scored 64 of the team's 71 points.  The last time EIU had five players in double figures was last year - Jan. 30, 2025 - during a 71-59 win at Western Illinois.  

WASHINGTON WITH A 20 SPOT
Andre Washington was the top scorer in Eastern Illinois balanced offensive attack on Thursday finishing the game with 20 points.  It was the second 20-point performance of Washington's EIU career with a high of 24 in the win over East-West.  A transfer from Long Island University, Washington missed the first five weeks of the regular season due to injury scoring 11 points in his EIU debut against Eastern Kentucky.  He has five double figure scoring games this season and needs 13 points to reach 500 for his collegiate career. 

HOT SHOOTING TO CLOSE OUT THE W
Eastern Illinois had one of its best closing halves of the season on Thursday as the Panthers shot 57.1 percent from the field scoring 42 points.  It was the first time this season that EIU had trailed at the half and come back to win the game.  The 42 points in a half are the third most scored by EIU this season and the sixth time EIU has scored 40 or more in a half.  The 57.1 percent shooting was the second best shooting half this season for EIU and the seventh time the Panthers have shot 50 percent or better in a half.  

UP NEXT
Tuesday - January 13, 2026 vs. Western Illinois (7:30 pm / ESPN+)