Nashville Standard

OPENING TIP: After dropping its first back-to-back OVC games of the season, Tennessee State is back on its home floor to host Eastern Illinois on Thursday evening. The Tigers are reeling from losses to UT Martin and Tennessee Tech last week, find themselves in an opportunity to get back to .500 in conference play with wins against EIU and then a season-sweep over Little Rock on Saturday.The Matchup: Tennessee State Tigers (10-9, 2-4 OVC) vs Eastern Illinois Panthers (7-12, 3-3 OVC)Date/Time: Thursday, January 19 at 8:00 p.m. CT (approx 25 minutes after the WBB game)Location: Gentry Center || NASHVILLETV:  ESPN+ — Jeff Hem (pxp), Ron Slay (analyst)Radio: 102.1 FM The Ville — Greg Pogue (pxp), Albert Dawson (analyst)LIVE STATS

EASTERN ILLINOIS SERIES INFORMATION: Thursday is the 61st all-time meeting between TSU and Eastern Illinois with the Tigers holding a 33-26 mark over the Panthers. TSU is 6-4 in the last 10 meetings against EIU. Both teams won on its home floor in 2022, with TSU taking home a 14-point win at the Gentry Center on Feb. 19. Marcus Fitzgerald had a team-best 15 points with three rebounds and four assists. 

SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS: EIU finished nonconference play with one of the largest upsets this season over Iowas, 92-83. The Panthers started OVC play with wins over Lindenwood and Southern Indiana before losses to Tennessee Tech, Morehead State and SIUE. Kinyon Hodges is the lone Panther averaging double digits at 13.4 points per game. Yaakema Rose Jr., is just shy of double digits at 9.9 ppg. 

MR. 2,000: Jr. Clay is 30 points shy of reaching the 2,000-point plateau sits just outside the top 20 in OVC history. Clay is also 39 points away from tying former Morehead State and NBA player Kenneth Faried for 19th all-time in OVC history. Before arriving at TSU, Clay spent four seasons at OVC foe Tennessee Tech where he scored 1,661 for the Golden Eagles. In 17 games as a Tiger, Clay is at 309 total points (18.2 ppg). 

CLAY KEEPS 20+ STREAK ALIVE: Jr Clay's 20+ points scoring streak is alive heading into Thursday's contest with EIU after he finished with 21 points in the loss to UT Martin on Thursday and then 22 points in the loss to TTU on Saturday. Clay added seven rebounds and three assists in 38 minutes in his first game back to Cookeville. 

DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR A10: Adong Makuoi finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to Tennessee Tech on Saturday. The graduate center played 27 minutes and knocked down 6-of-9 from the field.

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