RICHMOND, Ky. – After sweeping both OVC home games last weekend, the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team begins a four-game road swing Thursday at Eastern Illinois. Tip time is set for 9 p.m. ET.

Eastern Kentucky (9-7, 3-3 OVC) shot 53.7 percent from the floor in its two victories over Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech. Now the Colonels hope to pick up their first OVC road win of the season. Dating back to last season, Eastern Kentucky has lost five straight road games against league foes. However, three of the five games were decided by six points or less.

Eastern Illinois (6-9, 3-2 OVC) has won three of its last four games including an 83-63 win at Southeast Missouri on Jan. 10. Through five OVC games, the Panthers have four players averaging at least 10 points per game led by junior college transfer T.J. Marion (14.0 ppg). Junior center Ousmane Cisse is averaging 12.6 ppg and 7.4 rpg versus league foes. Against Southeast Missouri, Cisse posted 16 points and nine rebounds while junior transfer Edin Suljic came off the bench to add 16 points and five boards.

Eastern Kentucky is 6-0 against Eastern Illinois under head coach Jeff Neubauer. The Colonels have won eight straight in this series. Five of the last eight games have been decided by seven points or less. The Colonels own a slight 14-10 edge in the series record.

Following the Eastern Illinois game, the Colonels head to Southeast Missouri to face the Redhawks on Saturday, Jan. 17.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for game notes!

Television
--None

Video Streaming
--Thursday’s game can be seen on the web as part of OVCSports.tv. The cost is $5.95. Click here for live video stream!

Live Audio
--Thursday’s game can be heard locally on WCYO 100.7 FM and WEKU 88.9 FM. Click here for live radio broadcast!

Live Stats
--Click here for live stats!

Storylines
--Senior Mike Rose needs four more three-pointers to earn a spot in the OVC career top-10 three-pointers made list. Rose has made 222 three-pointers in four years at EKU. In six career games against Eastern Illinois, Rose is shooting just 26.3 percent (10-of-38) from three-point range. The guard was 0-for-3 from behind the arc at EIU last year.

--Freshman Joshua Jones registered a season-high 25 points in the win over Tennessee Tech on Jan. 10. The guard was 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) from the field and made a team season-best nine free throws against TTU. Jones also scored 20 points at Austin Peay on Jan. 5, helping him earn OVC Freshman of the Week accolades.