EASTERN ILLINOIS (4-23, 3-13 OVC) vs. Morehead State (16-11, 11-5 OVC)
Thursday, February 19  •  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 27-23
LAST MEETING: @Morehead State 52, EIU 48 on January 24, 2026
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes

GAME 28
Eastern Illinois fell behind in the opening quarter on Saturday before putting together one of their best defensive quarters ever.  Little Rock rebounded in the second half to hand Eastern Illinois the loss and drop the Panthers to 4-23 overall, 3-13 in the OVC.  The Panthers open their final home weekend of the season on Thursday night hosting Morehead State before a Saturday afternoon game against Southern Indiana.  Morehead State beat EIU by four points in January in the first meeting this season between the two schools.  The Eagles enter at 16-11 overall, 11-5 in the OVC.  

GREAT DEFENSIVE QUARTER
Eastern Illinois put together its best defensive quarter of the season in the second quarter of Saturday's game against Little Rock.  The Panthers limited Little Rock to just two points in the quarter shooting 8.1 percent.  It marked the seventh time this season that EIU has held an opponent to single digits in a quarter with the previous low of six points against SIUE (2nd Q) and Tennessee State (1st Q).  The two point quarter set the school record with the previous low of four points by Milwaukee (12/10/22 - 1st Q) and Cincinnati (12/20/15 - 4th Q).

GETTING TO THE STRIPE
Eastern Illinois was able to get to the free throw line 24 times on Saturday against Little Rock knocking down 19 of those shots to finish at 79.2 percent from the line.  For the year EIU ranks fourth in the OVC shooting 75.1 percent from the line.  It marked the fourth time this season EIU has made 20 or more trips to the foul line with a high of 28 free throws at Indiana State followed by 27 at Bellarmine.  EIU also had 21 free throw attempts at Purdue.  EIU's best free throw shooting night was 10-of-10 at Little Rock back in mid-January.

HARDY LEADS OFF THE BENCH
Sophomore guard Nyah Hardy came off the bench to lead the Panthers in scoring on Saturday against Little Rock finishing with nine points.  It was the second time this season Hardy has finished as the Panthers scoring leader after  a season high 16 points in November at No. 22 Michigan State.  Hardy has three double figure games this season with her most recent a 14 point game at Western Illinois.  She has scored in three straight games off the bench knocking down seven 3-pointers over that time period averaging 11.3 points per game.

UP NEXT
Saturday, February 21 vs. Southern Indiana (1 pm / ESPN+)