RICHMOND, Ky. – The men's basketball teams from Eastern Kentucky University and Eastern Illinois University will meet on Wednesday in Charleston, Illinois.  The two programs were both members of the Ohio Valley Conference from 1996 through 2021.
 
The contest will begin at 8 p.m. ET and air live on ESPN+.  The live audio broadcast of the game is available worldwide on EKUSports.com and the EKUSports app.  Click the "Listen Live" button at the top of the EKUSports.com home page to access the audio broadcast.
 
THE COLONELS
-  EKU moved to 2-7 this season after a 122-67 victory over Indiana University East on Saturday.
 
-  The Colonels just missed tying the program record of 28 steals in a game when they finished with 26 against Indiana-East.  EKU forced 31 turnovers and had a 46-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
-  Redshirt freshman Jayden Harris set new career-highs for points (16), steals (5) and assists (5) against IU East.
 
-  The Colonels are 17th in the nation with 11.2 made 3-pointers per game.  EKU is eighth in the country with 33.9 attempts per game from 3-point range.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
-  Eastern Illinois is 2-6 overall and has lost three straight.  The Panthers lost to Atlantic Sun Conference member Central Arkansas (81-60), then No. 1 ranked Purdue 109-62 and their Ohio Valley Conference opener against Lindenwood (82-74) on Saturday.  
 
- EIU is averaging only 62 points per game while allowing 78 per contest on the season.  The Panthers have hit on 41% of their shots from the field, but just 28% from behind the arc which ranks 346th in the nation.
 
-  Zion Fruster leads the team in scoring at 16.6 points per contest, but has played in only five of the team's eight games.  He had 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting against Lindenwood on Saturday.  The 6-foot-2 senior guard played two seasons at the Division II level before joining Eastern Illinois before the 2024-25 season.
 
-  Terry McMorris, a 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, is EIU's top rebounder at 6.5 boards per game.  However, the Panthers have been out-rebounded this season by 8.3 rebounds per game.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-  EKU leads the all-time series 28-18 and has won six straight against Eastern Illinois.
 
-  Eleven unanswered points in the first half fueled EKU's 81-66 victory over Eastern Illinois on Dec. 14 at the Seabury Center in Berea, Kentucky.  EKU was down 17-13 when George Kimble III hit consecutive 3-pointers to start the game-changing run.  Montavious Myrick followed with a dunk.  Kimble capped the run with a steal, a dunk and a free throw to put the Colonels on top 24-17 with 7:17 to play in the opening period.  The Colonels shot 17-of-38 (44.7%) from deep for the game.  Eastern Illinois made just 3-of-18 (16.7%).  Kimble had a team-best 18 points, seven steals, five assists and four rebounds.  Jackson Holt finished with 17 points.  Nakyel Shelton led all players with 22 points for the Panthers.