SIU Edwardsville Dominates Eastern Illinois 77-50
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 4:30 PM ET · First Community Arena
SIU Edwardsville Cougars 77, Eastern Illinois Panthers 50, 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 SIU Edwardsville Cougars?
SIU Edwardsville Cougars beat Eastern Illinois Panthers 77-50 at First Community Arena on February 28, 2026.
Who was favored in Eastern Illinois Panthers vs SIU Edwardsville Cougars?
SIU Edwardsville Cougars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -265 (about 73% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive victory, the SIU Edwardsville Cougars triumphed over the Eastern Illinois Panthers with a final score of 77-50. This game showcased the Cougars' strong performance at home, where they have now solidified their record to 19-12 for the season. The match took place at the First Community Arena, and SIU Edwardsville's dominance was evident throughout the game.
The Cougars entered this matchup with a recent form of 6-4 over their last ten games, currently riding a one-game winning streak. They averaged 65.6 points scored while allowing 63.0 points during this stretch. In their latest game before facing Eastern Illinois, SIU Edwardsville defeated the Western Illinois Leathernecks 67-47 at home. Their home record stands at 3-1 in their last four games, contributing to their overall success this season.
On the other side, the Eastern Illinois Panthers have struggled this season with a record of 12-19. Their recent performance has been less favorable, with a record of 3-7 in their last ten games, also on a one-game winning streak. They averaged 68.0 points scored and allowed 71.8 points during this period. Their most recent victory came against the Lindenwood Lions, where they won 71-67. However, the Panthers have faced challenges on the road, holding a 1-4 record in their last five away games.
Historically, SIU Edwardsville has had the upper hand in their recent matchups against Eastern Illinois, leading the head-to-head record 2-1 over the last two seasons. In their previous meetings this season, the Cougars lost to the Panthers 72-76 on December 18, 2025, but managed to secure a convincing win at home on February 5, 2025, with a score of 66-41. Their first encounter in January 2025 also ended in favor of SIU Edwardsville, winning 60-57.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but the overall health of the teams can often impact performance. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had SIU Edwardsville favored by 5.5 points, with a total set at 129.5. The odds reflected the Cougars' strong home performance and recent form.
The conditions during the game were not detailed in the block, but typical factors such as crowd support and the atmosphere at the First Community Arena likely played a role in SIU Edwardsville's dominant performance.
Viewers of the game would have noted several key moments, including scoring plays that highlighted the Cougars' offensive prowess. Notable plays included Jo Valrie's 25-foot three-point jumper and Arnas Sakenis' dunk, both assisted by Jack Campion, who contributed significantly to the team's scoring efforts. The Cougars maintained a commanding lead throughout the game, with their ability to score effectively and defend well leading to their comprehensive victory.
Overall, this match served as a testament to SIU Edwardsville's capabilities, particularly at home, as they continue to build momentum heading into the latter part of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SIUE -5.5 | 129.5 o -115 / u -105 | Eastern Illinois Panthers +215 · SIU Edwardsville Cougars -265 |
Leaders
- PointsArnas Sakenis16SIU Edwardsville Cougars
- AssistsJack Campion9SIU Edwardsville Cougars
- ReboundsTyler King7SIU Edwardsville Cougars
- PointsZion Fruster11Eastern Illinois Panthers
- AssistsTerry McMorris3Eastern Illinois Panthers
- ReboundsTerry McMorris4Eastern Illinois Panthers
Recent form
SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Last 10: 6-4Streak W165.6 scored · 63 allowed per game3-1 at home
- W67-47vs Western Illinois LeathernecksFeb 27
- L53-80at Tennessee State TigersFeb 21
- L52-62at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesFeb 20
- L76-81vs UT Martin SkyhawksFeb 14
- W74-56vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksFeb 13
- W71-61at Little Rock TrojansFeb 7
- W78-72at Lindenwood LionsFeb 4
- W58-46at Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesFeb 1
- L65-67at Morehead State EaglesJan 30
- W62-58vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 24
Eastern Illinois Panthers
Last 10: 3-7Streak W168 scored · 71.8 allowed per game2-3 away
- W71-67at Lindenwood LionsFeb 27
- 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
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 | SIU Edwardsville Cougars |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 18-47 | 31-57 |
| Field goal % | 38 | 54 |
| Three-pointers | 3-19 | 12-27 |
| Three-point % | 16 | 44 |
| Free throws | 11-18 | 3-4 |
| Free throw % | 61 | 75 |
| Rebounds | 25 | 34 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 17 | 25 |
| Assists | 6 | 21 |
| Steals | 7 | 8 |
| Blocks | 2 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 18 | 16 |
| Fast-break points | 8 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 16 | 36 |
| Fouls | 8 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 29 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 99 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half22-32Tyler King makes layup (Kyle Thomas assists)
- 1st Half23-32Terry McMorris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half24-32Terry McMorris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half25-32Zion Fruster makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half26-32Zion Fruster makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half26-35Darrion Baker makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half26-38Tyler King makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half28-38Terry McMorris makes layup (Meechie White assists)
- 2nd Half28-40Tyler King makes driving layup
- 2nd Half28-42Jordan Pickett makes 14-foot jumper
- 2nd Half30-42Meechie White makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half31-42Zion Fruster makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half32-42Zion Fruster makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half32-44Darrion Baker makes layup (Tyler King assists)
- 2nd Half32-46Jordan Pickett makes driving layup
- 2nd Half32-48Arnas Sakenis makes 4-foot dunk (Tyler King assists)
- 2nd Half32-51Jordan Pickett makes 27-foot three point jumper (CJ Hall assists)
- 2nd Half34-51Meechie White makes layup
- 2nd Half34-53Tyler King makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half36-53Kooper Jacobi makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half39-53Kooper Jacobi makes 24-foot three point jumper (Meechie White assists)
- 2nd Half41-53Meechie White makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half41-55Arnas Sakenis makes layup
- 2nd Half41-56Tyler King makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-59Tyler King makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half41-60Kyle Thomas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-61Kyle Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-63Arnas Sakenis makes 3-foot dunk (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half41-66Jack Campion makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jordan Pickett assists)
- 2nd Half41-68Kyle Thomas makes driving layup
- 2nd Half43-68Markus Blackwell makes 20-foot jumper
- 2nd Half44-68Terry McMorris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-68Terry McMorris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-71Jo Valrie makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half45-73Arnas Sakenis makes 2-foot dunk (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half46-73Terry McMorris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-75Jack Campion makes 20-foot jumper
- 2nd Half48-75Markus Blackwell makes layup
- 2nd Half48-77Harrison Alexander makes layup (Corentin Efono assists)
- 2nd Half50-77Meechie White makes 14-foot jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours SIU Edwardsville Cougars, below favours Eastern Illinois Panthers.
Venue
- First Community ArenaEdwardsville, IL
- Attendance2634
- OfficialsBryan Washer, Ron Gengenbacher, Kyle Stewart
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