RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's and women's basketball teams continue their Ohio Valley Conference homestand by hosting Eastern Illinois on Thursday at McBrayer Arena.

The doubleheader begins with the women's game at 5:00 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.

Both games will stream live on ESPN+.

Thursday is Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night at McBrayer Arena!
- FREE Admission for EKU faculty and staff, and one guest
- $4 Soda/Popcorn Combo for faculty and staff, with valid EKU I.D.

Women's Preview

Live Broadcast (ESPN+)  |  Live Stats  |  Game Notes (PDF) 
  

INSIDE THE SERIES
- The series is tied between the two teams, 19-19.
 
- EIU won last year's meeting at home, 80-60.
 
THE COLONELS
-  Eastern is 6-7 (0-2 OVC) after falling to Jacksonville State, 43-33, on Saturday.
 
-  De'Arya Davis led the way posting a team-high 10 points, two rebounds and two assists against the Gamecocks.  
 
-  I'Liyah Green posted five points, seven rebounds and three blocks.   
 
-  The Colonels held JSU to 28 percent shooting from the field.
 
-  Qay Stanton ranks third in the OVC in assist/turnover ratio.
 
-  The Colonels rank third in the conference in field goal percentage defense.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Eastern Illinois comes into the contest at 7-6 (1-1 OVC), after falling on the road at Belmont on Saturday.
 
-  Karly Pace led the way for the Panthers posting a game-high 17 points against the Bruins.  
 
-  EIU ranks first in the OVC in scoring defense.
 
-  Pace ranks eighth in the conference in scoring at 13.5 points per game.    
 
-  Abby Wahl ranks ninth in the conference in scoring at 13.2 points per game.
 
UP NEXT
Eastern Kentucky wraps up its four game home stand on Saturday when the Colonels take on SIU Edwardsville. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

 
 
Men's Preview

Live Broadcast (ESPN+)  |  Live Stats  |  Game Notes (PDF)  |  Live Audio 
Buy Tickets  I  Game Program  |  Social Media - @EKUHoops

WHAT TO KNOW
 
EKU (4-11, 1-1 OVC) split last week at home, defeating Tennessee Tech, 74-59, on Thursday, before falling to Jacksonville State, 80-71, on Saturday.
 
Junior JacQuess Hobbs leads the OVC in assist/turnover ratio (11-0) after the opening week of conference play. He is also tied for the lead in assists/game (5.5) and ranked second in steals/game (2.5).
 
Senior Lachlan Anderson hit 6-of-11 three-pointers last week and is now ranked seventh in the OVC in three-point field goal percentage (43.8%).
 
Senior Ty Taylor has now scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games. He has connected on at least one three-pointer in 14 consecutive games.
 
Thursday's game pits the top two steals teams in the OVC against each other. EKU leads the conference (and ranks sixth in the NCAA) at 10.1 steals-per-game. EIU is No. 2 in the conference at 8.0 steals-per-game.
 
EKU ranks No. 3 in the NCAA in turnovers forced-per-game (20.5) and 19th in turnover margin (+4.7).
 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
 
Eastern Illinois (7-7, 0-2 OVC) opened conference play by falling on at Tennessee State and Belmont in consecutive games last week in Nashville.
 
Mack Smith averages 12.8 points-per-game for EIU, one of four Panthers averaging double figures this season.
 
This is the 41st all-time meeting between EKU and Eastern Illinois. The Colonels lead the series, 22-18, but have dropped five straight to the Panthers.
 
 
UP NEXT
 
EKU wraps up the homestand by hosting SIUE on Saturday at 4 p.m.