EASTERN ILLINOIS (9-14, 5-7 OVC) at Tennessee State (14-8, 8-4 OVC)
Thursday, February 5  •  7:30 pm 
Nashville, Tenn.  •  Gentry Center

GAME INFO
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: TSU leads 39-27
LAST MEETING: @EIU 74, Tennessee State 70 on January 10, 2026
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes

GAME 24
Eastern Illinois hits the road for a two-game swing through Tennessee as the Ohio Valley Conference season hits the final month of play.  The Panthers enter the final eight games of the year at 9-14 overall, 5-7 in the OVC after a pair of home losses last week.  EIU currently sits in eighth place in the OVC standings as the top eight teams make the OVC Tournament field in Evansville in early March.  EIU begins the trip to the Volunteer State on Thursday at Tennessee State.  The Tigers are 14-8 overall, 8-4 in the OVC which is locked in a four-way tie for second place in the OVC standings.

BLACKWELL IN DOUBLE FIGURES 
Freshman Markus Blackwell provided a nice offensive lift off the bench on Saturday scoring a team-high 16 points against Southeast Missouri.  Blackwell knocked down 5-of-7 shots from the field including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.  The 16 points were a career high for the guard and the second double figure scoring game this season for Blackwell whose first double figure game was 11 points against Blackburn College.  Earlier this season Blackwell earned OVC Freshman of the Week for his performance against East-West University.

MEECHIE COLLECTING STEALS
Guard Meechie White has been one of the Panthers top defensive guards this season leading the team with 47 steals which ranks fourth in the OVC at 2.0 steals per game.  On Saturday he posted his fourth straight game with multiple steals finishing with two against Southeast Missouri. He has two games this season with five steals.  White scored 15 points against SEMO for his ninth double figure game this season.  White needs ten more steals to crack the EIU single season Top Ten.

FISHER CRASHES THE GLASS
Nazareth Fisher averaged a double-double last season playing at NCAA Division II Point Park and entered his fifth collegiate season (due to NCAA waiver granting extra year for NAIA play) with 794 collegiate rebounds.  Following some early season shoulder issues, Fisher pulled down his 800th career rebound in the OVC opener against Lindenwood on Dec. 6.  Last Thursday he had his second double figure rebounding game as a Panther with ten against UT Martin.  Fisher now has 874 career college rebounds and 36 career double figure rebounding games.

UP NEXT
Saturday - February 7, 2026 at Tennessee Tech (3:00 pm / ESPN+)