Eastern Illinois Tops Lindenwood in Close Contest
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · Hyland Arena
Eastern Illinois Panthers 71, Lindenwood Lions 67, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Eastern Illinois Panthers vs Lindenwood Lions?
Eastern Illinois Panthers beat Lindenwood Lions 71-67 at Hyland Arena on February 26, 2026.
Who was favored in Eastern Illinois Panthers vs Lindenwood Lions?
Lindenwood Lions were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -345 (about 78% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup at Hyland Arena, the Eastern Illinois Panthers edged out the Lindenwood Lions with a final score of 71-67. This victory marks a significant achievement for Eastern Illinois, as they have now improved their head-to-head record against Lindenwood to 3-1 over the last four meetings. The Panthers previously defeated the Lions 82-74 in December 2025, but lost both encounters in the 2025 season.
The game started with both teams battling for control, but it was the Panthers who ultimately pulled ahead in the second half. Eastern Illinois entered this contest with a record of 12-18, while Lindenwood stood at 16-14. Despite the Lions' better overall record, their recent form has been concerning, as they have lost their last three games, including a 57-72 defeat against Tennessee Tech and an 80-89 loss to Tennessee State. Over the last ten games, Lindenwood has a record of 5-5, averaging 75.1 points scored and allowing 76.2 points per game.
In contrast, Eastern Illinois has struggled this season, going 3-7 in their last ten games and entering this contest on a two-game losing streak. They averaged 66.8 points scored and allowed 70.2 points per game during that stretch. Their recent form included a narrow 68-70 loss to Southern Indiana and a 70-73 defeat against Morehead State. While both teams have shown inconsistency, the Panthers have demonstrated resilience in their recent performances.
The game was tightly contested throughout, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times. Key moments in the second half included Jadis Jones making a layup to bring the score to 66-65 in favor of Eastern Illinois, followed by Meechie White's crucial free throws that extended the Panthers' lead. The Lions fought back, with Anias Futrell making two free throws to narrow the gap, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
In terms of home and away performance, Lindenwood has struggled at home with a record of 2-3 in their last five games, while Eastern Illinois has performed slightly better on the road, with a 2-3 record in their last five away games. The conditions at Hyland Arena were conducive to a competitive game, with both teams eager to secure a win.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had Lindenwood as 7.5-point favorites, with a total set at 144.5. The odds reflected the expectations of a close game, which ultimately played out as anticipated. The home team was given a moneyline of -345, while the away team was listed at +275, indicating a belief in Lindenwood's ability to win despite their recent struggles.
Injury reports did not play a significant role in this matchup, as both teams were relatively healthy, allowing them to field their best lineups. Fans and analysts alike were keen to watch for key players, particularly Eastern Illinois' Meechie White, who played a pivotal role in the final moments of the game.
Overall, this matchup was a testament to the competitive spirit of both teams. Eastern Illinois' ability to secure a win on the road against a higher-ranked opponent showcases their potential as they look to close out the season strong. The Lions, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their recent struggles as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LIN -7.5 | 144.5 o -110 / u -110 | Eastern Illinois Panthers +275 · Lindenwood Lions -345 |
Leaders
- PointsAnias Futrell27Lindenwood Lions
- AssistsMekhi Cooper4Lindenwood Lions
- ReboundsJadis Jones13Lindenwood Lions
- PointsKooper Jacobi30Eastern Illinois Panthers
- AssistsMeechie White4Eastern Illinois Panthers
- ReboundsKooper Jacobi13Eastern Illinois Panthers
Recent form
Lindenwood Lions
Last 10: 5-5Streak L375.1 scored · 76.2 allowed per game2-3 at home
- L57-72at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesFeb 21
- L80-89at Tennessee State TigersFeb 20
- L61-73vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksFeb 14
- W75-74vs UT Martin SkyhawksFeb 13
- W79-74at Little Rock TrojansFeb 6
- L72-78vs SIU Edwardsville CougarsFeb 4
- W79-78at Morehead State EaglesJan 31
- W73-60at Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesJan 30
- L86-96vs Tennessee State TigersJan 24
- W89-68vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 23
Eastern Illinois Panthers
Last 10: 3-7Streak L266.8 scored · 70.2 allowed per game2-3 away
- L68-70vs Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesFeb 21
- L70-73vs Morehead State EaglesFeb 20
- W78-72vs Little Rock TrojansFeb 14
- L70-79at Western Illinois LeathernecksFeb 11
- W60-54at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesFeb 7
- L68-77at Tennessee State TigersFeb 6
- L59-77vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 31
- L68-76vs UT Martin SkyhawksJan 30
- L68-73at Morehead State EaglesJan 24
- W59-51at Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesJan 23
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State | 23-10 | - | 15-5 |
| Morehead State | 20-13 | - | 15-5 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 20-13 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UT Martin | 22-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| SIU Edwardsville | 19-13 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Lindenwood | 18-15 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Little Rock | 12-20 | 6 | 9-11 |
| Tennessee Tech | 13-18 | 6 | 8-12 |
| Eastern Illinois | 13-20 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Southern Indiana | 7-23 | 11 | 4-16 |
| Western Illinois | 5-26 | 14 | 1-19 |
Box score
| Stat | Eastern Illinois Panthers | Lindenwood Lions |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 20-49 | 25-66 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 38 |
| Three-pointers | 6-9 | 7-24 |
| Three-point % | 67 | 29 |
| Free throws | 25-33 | 10-14 |
| Free throw % | 76 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 41 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 18 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 23 |
| Assists | 12 | 11 |
| Steals | 12 | 9 |
| Blocks | 5 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 14 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 16 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 18 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 20 | 36 |
| Fouls | 14 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 12 | 3 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 91 | 6 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half42-40Anias Futrell makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half42-41Kevin Anthony makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-41Kooper Jacobi makes layup (Terry McMorris assists)
- 2nd Half47-41Kooper Jacobi makes 25-foot three point jumper (Terry McMorris assists)
- 2nd Half47-44Anias Futrell makes 25-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Cooper assists)
- 2nd Half49-44Markus Blackwell makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half49-46Milos Nenadic makes 6-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half51-46Markus Blackwell makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half51-48Dontrez Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half52-48Meechie White makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-48Meechie White makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-49Jadis Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-49Meechie White makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-49Meechie White makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-49Kooper Jacobi makes layup
- 2nd Half58-49Prince Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-49Prince Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-51Clayton Jackson makes layup
- 2nd Half60-51Terry McMorris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-51Terry McMorris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-51Terry McMorris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-54Dontrez Williams makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jadis Jones assists)
- 2nd Half62-56Anias Futrell makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half63-56Zion Fruster makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-58Dontrez Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half64-58Meechie White makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-58Meechie White makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-59Anias Futrell makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half65-60Anias Futrell makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half65-61Anias Futrell makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half65-63Jadis Jones makes layup (Dontrez Williams assists)
- 2nd Half66-63Kooper Jacobi makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-65Jadis Jones makes layup
- 2nd Half67-65Meechie White makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-65Meechie White makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-66Anias Futrell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-67Anias Futrell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-67Meechie White makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-67Meechie White makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-67Kooper Jacobi makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Lindenwood Lions, below favours Eastern Illinois Panthers.
Venue
- Hyland ArenaSaint Charles, MO
- Attendance1289
- OfficialsSteve Honacki, Shane Staggs, Michael Swoboda
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
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- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond