Eastern Illinois Tops Southern Indiana in Overtime Thriller
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · Liberty Arena (IN)
Eastern Illinois Panthers 59, Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles 51, 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 Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles?
Eastern Illinois Panthers beat Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles 59-51 at Liberty Arena (IN) on January 22, 2026.
Who was favored in Eastern Illinois Panthers vs Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles?
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -148 (about 60% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Eastern Illinois Panthers edged out the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles with a final score of 59-51 after overtime. This game, held at Liberty Arena in Indiana, showcased a dramatic finish, particularly with Zion Fruster's pivotal contributions in the extra period, which included a crucial three-point jumper and multiple free throws that solidified the Panthers' victory.
Both teams entered the game with contrasting recent forms. The Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles, with a home record of 4-15, have struggled significantly this season, posting a record of 1-8-1 in their last ten games. Their average scoring during this stretch was 58.2 points, while they allowed an average of 64.4 points per game. In their last five games, they managed to score an average of 70.0 points but allowed 73.4 points, indicating defensive vulnerabilities. They faced a recent loss against the Tennessee State Tigers, finishing 67-73, and their only win in the last ten games came against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, where they triumphed 71-54.
On the other hand, the Eastern Illinois Panthers, with a record of 9-11, have shown a more favorable form lately, going 6-4 in their last ten games. They have averaged 72.9 points scored and allowed 64.8 points during this stretch, demonstrating a stronger offensive and defensive balance. Their most recent game was a commanding 105-49 victory over the Blackburn Beavers, which showcased their scoring potential. However, they also experienced a loss to the Little Rock Trojans, 63-74, prior to that win.
In terms of home and away performance, the Screaming Eagles have struggled at home, posting a 0-4 record in their last four home games. Conversely, the Panthers have been dominant at home with a 6-0 record but have faced challenges on the road, reflected in their 0-4 away record.
The two teams have faced each other twice in the previous season, splitting the series with one win each. The most recent meeting prior to this game was on February 21, 2025, where the Panthers won 63-54 at home. Their earlier encounter on January 25, 2025, saw the Screaming Eagles claim a narrow 64-60 victory.
In terms of injuries, no specific players were mentioned in the block, indicating that both teams may have been at full strength for this matchup. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Southern Indiana favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 135.5. The home moneyline was listed at -148.0, while the away moneyline stood at 124.0.
Conditions for the game were typical for indoor basketball, with no adverse weather factors affecting play. Fans and viewers were treated to a competitive atmosphere, with both teams displaying their strengths and weaknesses throughout the contest. The game was marked by a tense second half, culminating in overtime where Fruster's performance was decisive.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the struggles of Southern Indiana against a more in-form Eastern Illinois team, who capitalized on their scoring opportunities in overtime to secure the win.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | USI -2.5 | 135.5 o -105 / u -115 | Eastern Illinois Panthers +124 · Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles -148 |
Leaders
- PointsAmaree Brown17Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
- AssistsIsmail Habib3Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
- ReboundsTolu Samuels11Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
- PointsZion Fruster25Eastern Illinois Panthers
- AssistsZion Fruster2Eastern Illinois Panthers
- ReboundsMeechie White10Eastern Illinois Panthers
Recent form
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
Last 10: 1-8-1Streak L158.2 scored · 64.4 allowed per game0-4 at home
- L67-73at Tennessee State TigersJan 17
- W71-54at Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 16
- L56-73vs UT Martin SkyhawksJan 11
- L76-84vs Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 9
- L80-83at Lindenwood LionsJan 3
- L55-59at SIU Edwardsville CougarsJan 1
- L60-64vs Morehead State EaglesDec 20
- L62-77vs Little Rock TrojansDec 19
- D0-0vs East West PhantomsDec 16
- L55-77at Indiana State SycamoresDec 7
Eastern Illinois Panthers
Last 10: 6-4Streak W172.9 scored · 64.8 allowed per game0-4 away
- W105-49vs Blackburn BeaversJan 18
- L63-74at Little Rock TrojansJan 16
- W57-55vs Western Illinois LeathernecksJan 14
- W74-70vs Tennessee State TigersJan 10
- W71-61vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 9
- L61-65at UT Martin SkyhawksJan 3
- L59-68at Southeast Missouri State RedhawksJan 2
- W110-56vs East West PhantomsDec 22
- W76-72vs SIU Edwardsville CougarsDec 18
- L53-78at Iowa State CyclonesDec 14
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 | Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 20-55 | 14-57 |
| Field goal % | 36 | 25 |
| Three-pointers | 2-12 | 4-28 |
| Three-point % | 17 | 14 |
| Free throws | 17-22 | 19-27 |
| Free throw % | 77 | 70 |
| Rebounds | 41 | 45 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 34 | 31 |
| Assists | 3 | 4 |
| Steals | 7 | 3 |
| Blocks | 3 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 17 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 16 | 19 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 18 |
| Fouls | 21 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 8 | 10 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 10 | 73 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half18-26Amaree Brown makes layup
- 1st Half20-26Terry McMorris makes layup
- 1st Half20-27Sheridan Sharp makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half22-27Kooper Jacobi makes layup
- 1st Half23-27Terry McMorris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half24-27Terry McMorris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half26-27Zion Fruster makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half26-29Amaree Brown makes 6-foot jumper
- 2nd Half29-29Zion Fruster makes 24-foot three point jumper (Meechie White assists)
- 2nd Half29-31Ola Ajiboye makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half29-34Amaree Brown makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ismail Habib assists)
- 2nd Half31-34Meechie White makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half31-36Ismail Habib makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half32-36Terry McMorris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half32-37Amaree Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half34-37Malik Olafioye makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half35-37Malik Olafioye makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half35-38Ismail Habib makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half35-39Ismail Habib makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-39Andre Washington makes layup
- 2nd Half39-39Kooper Jacobi makes layup
- 2nd Half39-41Ismail Habib makes layup
- 2nd Half41-41Kooper Jacobi makes 15-foot jumper (Zion Fruster assists)
- 2nd Half43-41Terry McMorris makes layup
- 2nd Half44-41Terry McMorris makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half44-44Steven Clay makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ismail Habib assists)
- 2nd Half44-46Tolu Samuels makes 2-foot dunk (Ismail Habib assists)
- 2nd Half46-46Meechie White makes layup (Zion Fruster assists)
- 2nd Half46-47Devin Curtis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-49Ismail Habib makes layup
- 2nd Half48-49Zion Fruster makes layup
- 2nd Half48-50Ismail Habib makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-50Zion Fruster makes 5-foot jumper
- OT50-51Amaree Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT52-51Zion Fruster makes layup
- OT55-51Zion Fruster makes 27-foot three point jumper
- OT56-51Zion Fruster makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT57-51Zion Fruster makes free throw 2 of 2
- OT58-51Zion Fruster makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT59-51Zion Fruster makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles, below favours Eastern Illinois Panthers.
Venue
- Liberty Arena (IN)Evansville, IN
- Attendance1369
- OfficialsSteve Devine, Gene Grimshaw, Eric Lowe
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