EASTERN ILLINOIS (2-14, 1-4 OVC) vs. Tennessee State (2-12, 1-4 OVC)
Saturday, January 10  •  1:00 pm 
Charleston, Ill.  •  Groniger Arena

GAME INFO
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: EIU leads 40-16
LAST MEETING: @EIU 69, Tennessee State 49 on February 13, 2025
NOTES:  EIU Complete Game Notes

GAME 17
Eastern Illinois picked up its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season on Thursday with a 75-74 last minute win over Tennessee Tech.  The win snapped an eight game losing skid for the Panthers as they are now 2-14 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.  EIU hosts Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-game homestand at Grongier Arena.  The Panthers wrap-up this stretch of home games on Tuesday hosting Western Illinois.  Tennessee State enters at 2-12 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.  The Lady Tigers have lost three straight after their Thursday night loss at Western Illinois. 

LEWIS COMES UP CLUTCH
Senior Tiny Lewis finished with 12 points on Thursday night with the last five points perhaps the biggest of her three year Panthers career.  Lewis scored the final five points for EIU in the 75-74 win over Tennessee Tech.  She knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:22 remaining to bring EIU within one point.  She then drained a pair of free throws with seven seconds left to carry EIU to the win.  Lewis was 5-of-6 from the free throw line and is shooting 92.9 percent from the line this season.   The double figure scoring effort was the 24th of Lewis career and the seventh this season.

PANTHERS WITH BALANCED SCORING
Eastern Illinois used balanced scoring during Thursday night's 75-74 win over Tennessee Tech as five players finished the game in double figures.  Ava Stoller led the way with 15 points followed by Sydney-James Desroches with 14 and Meioshe Mason with 13 points.  Tiny Lewis (12 pts) and Clara Glad (11 pts) rounded out the double figure EIU scorers.  The five double figure scorers accounted for 65 of the 75 points scored by EIU in the contest.  Ella Lune just missed joining the double figure party with eight points with Alanna Phillipo scoring the other two points.  The last time EIU had five players score in double figures in a game was on Feb. 10, 2024 in the four-overtime win at Morehead State.  

EIU FORCES STEALS VS TECH
Eastern Illinois turned up the pressure on defense on Thursday night as they collected 18 steals while forcing 22 Tennessee Tech turnovers.  The Panthers were able to convert those turnovers into 22 points.  The 18 steals were the most for EIU since picking up 19 steals in November 2024 against Indiana State.  It was the third time this season EIU has had double figure steals with 14 at Indiana State and 11 in the road win at Bellarmine.  On the season EIU is averaging 8.0 steals per game which ranks ninth in the OVC.  

UP NEXT
Tuesday, January 13 vs. Western Illinois (5 pm / ESPN+)