EASTERN ILLINOIS (9-15, 5-8 OVC) at Tennessee Tech (10-14, 5-8 OVC)
Saturday, February 7  •  3 pm 
Cookeville, Tenn.  •  Eblen Center

GAME COVERAGE
RADIO: Hit Mix 88.9 WEIU
TV: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: www.eiupanthers.com
SERIES RECORD: TTU leads 34-20
LAST MEETING: @EIU 71, Tennessee Tech 61 on January 8, 2026
NOTES: EIU Complete Game Notes

GAME 25
Eastern Illinois shot 51 percent from the field on Thursday night at Tennessee State but 17 Panther turnovers led to 19 points for TSU as Eastern Illinois lost its fourth straight game falling to 9-15 overall, 5-8 in the OVC.  The Panthers play the second game of a three game road swing on Saturday afternoon at Tennessee Tech before a Tuesday rivalry match-up with Western Illinois in the Old Railsplitter Ax game.  TTU has won three straight games to move to 10-14 overall, 5-8 in the OVC.  The Golden Eagles are averaging 91.3 points per game in those three wins as EIU and TTU are currently tied for eighth in the OVC standings.  

PANTHERS CONNECT OVER 50 PERCENT
For the third time this season Eastern Illinois shot 50 percent or better from the field in a game as the Panthers were 26-of-51 on Thursday night shooting 51 percent.  After shooting 42.3 percent in the opening half, EIU closed the second half shooting 60 percent from the field including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.  EIU's best shooting game this season was 67.7 percent against Blackburn College followed by 58.3 pct against East-West.   The last time EIU shot 50 pct against a Division I team was Feb. 15, 2024 vs Southeast Missouri.

JACOBI CHASING TWO MILESTONE MARKS
Kooper Jacobi closes the final portion of the season chasing a pair of milestone marks for himself as he tries to reach the 800 career point and 600 career rebound marks.  Jacobi had 15 points at Tennessee State for his 11th double figure scoring game this year and has 779 EIU points.  The graduate student had six rebounds Thursday night moving his EIU career total to 545.  Jacobi is looking to become just the 13th player in school history to pull down 600 or more rebounds.  Last year he led the OVC at 8.9 rebounds per game.  

MEECHIE SCORES AND STEALS
Guard Meechie White has been one of the Panthers top defensive guards this season leading the team with 50 steals which ranks third in the OVC at 2.1 steals per game.  On Thursday he posted his fifth straight game with multiple steals finishing with three at Tennessee State. He has two games this season with five steals.  White scored 15 points at TSU for his second straight double figure scoring game and tenth this season.  White needs seven more steals to crack the EIU single season Top Ten.

UP NEXT
Tuesday - February 10, 2026 at Western Illinois (7:30 pm / ESPN+)