Eastern Illinois Edges SIU Edwardsville in Overtime Thriller
Thursday, December 18, 2025, 6:30 PM ET · Groniger Arena
Eastern Illinois Panthers 76, SIU Edwardsville Cougars 72, 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 SIU Edwardsville Cougars vs Eastern Illinois Panthers?
Eastern Illinois Panthers beat SIU Edwardsville Cougars 76-72 at Groniger Arena on December 18, 2025.
Who was favored in SIU Edwardsville Cougars vs Eastern Illinois Panthers?
SIU Edwardsville Cougars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -270 (about 73% implied). The underdog won.
In a gripping contest that went into overtime, the Eastern Illinois Panthers triumphed over the SIU Edwardsville Cougars with a final score of 76-72. This victory is particularly notable as it marks a significant turnaround for the Panthers, who had struggled in their recent games, entering this matchup with a home record of 3-8 and a dismal 2-7-1 record over their last ten games, including a three-game losing streak.
The Panthers had averaged only 54.6 points in their last ten games while allowing 70.2 points, a stark contrast to their performance in this match. Eastern Illinois had suffered defeats against teams like Iowa State, Eastern Kentucky, and Lindenwood, but they managed to find their rhythm when it mattered most against SIU Edwardsville.
On the other hand, the Cougars came into this game with a stronger away record of 7-5 and had been performing better recently, boasting a 6-4 record over their last ten games, including a win in their most recent outing against the Eureka Red Devils. SIU Edwardsville averaged 74.2 points scored and allowed 67.7 points during that stretch, showcasing their offensive capabilities. However, they were unable to capitalize on their recent form in this matchup.
Historically, the Panthers had not fared well against the Cougars, losing both previous meetings in the current season. The first encounter on January 8 ended with a score of 57-60 in favor of SIU Edwardsville, and the second meeting on February 5 saw the Cougars winning decisively at 66-41. This added an extra layer of pressure on Eastern Illinois to break their losing streak against this opponent.
The game was held at the Groniger Arena, where the Panthers had a home record of 2-2 during their last ten games. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had set the odds with SIU Edwardsville favored by 6.5 points, indicating expectations of a competitive game. The total points line was set at 134.5, reflecting a belief in a moderately high-scoring affair.
In terms of player performances, the scoring plays in overtime highlighted the intensity of the match. Meechie White made crucial shots, including a 16-foot jumper and two free throws that sealed the victory for Eastern Illinois. Zion Fruster also played a pivotal role, contributing with timely jumpers that kept the score tight in the extra period. The back-and-forth nature of the overtime, with both teams exchanging leads, kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The conditions during the game were conducive for basketball, and the atmosphere in the arena was electric as the Panthers sought to rally from their recent struggles. The victory not only boosts the morale of the Eastern Illinois team but also serves as a critical turning point in their season as they look to build on this success moving forward.
Overall, this match showcased the resilience of the Panthers against a backdrop of recent adversity, and it will be interesting to see how both teams respond in their upcoming fixtures.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SIUE -6.5 | 134.5 o -112 / u -108 | SIU Edwardsville Cougars -270 · Eastern Illinois Panthers +220 |
Leaders
- PointsZion Fruster23Eastern Illinois Panthers
- AssistsKooper Jacobi4Eastern Illinois Panthers
- ReboundsKooper Jacobi10Eastern Illinois Panthers
- PointsRing Malith23SIU Edwardsville Cougars
- AssistsJack Campion10SIU Edwardsville Cougars
- ReboundsRing Malith5SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Recent form
Eastern Illinois Panthers
Last 10: 2-7-1Streak L354.6 scored · 70.2 allowed per game2-2 at home
- L53-78at Iowa State CyclonesDec 14
- L59-68vs Eastern Kentucky ColonelsDec 11
- L74-82vs Lindenwood LionsDec 7
- D0-0vs Blackburn BeaversDec 2
- L62-109at Purdue BoilermakersNov 28
- L60-81at Central Arkansas BearsNov 26
- W62-50vs Tiffin DragonsNov 20
- L53-99at Kentucky WildcatsNov 15
- L58-78at Notre Dame Fighting IrishNov 12
- W65-57vs Nicholls ColonelsNov 8
SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Last 10: 6-4Streak W174.2 scored · 67.7 allowed per game3-2 away
- W97-54vs Eureka Red DevilsDec 14
- L73-83vs Western Michigan BroncosDec 6
- W72-63at North Florida OspreysDec 3
- W92-55vs Missouri Baptist SpartansNov 28
- W83-68vs Alabama State HornetsNov 23
- L63-77at Air Force FalconsNov 21
- L69-94at Wisconsin BadgersNov 18
- W61-59at Drake BulldogsNov 15
- L55-64vs Indiana State SycamoresNov 11
- W77-60at UTSA RoadrunnersNov 7
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 | SIU Edwardsville Cougars | Eastern Illinois Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-58 | 28-57 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 49 |
| Three-pointers | 11-24 | 7-20 |
| Three-point % | 46 | 35 |
| Free throws | 13-16 | 13-17 |
| Free throw % | 81 | 76 |
| Rebounds | 30 | 39 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 29 |
| Assists | 17 | 13 |
| Steals | 7 | 11 |
| Blocks | 5 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 16 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 19 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 20 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 32 |
| Fouls | 16 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 10 | 10 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 42 | 45 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half40-39Arnas Sakenis makes layup (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half40-41Nazareth Fisher makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half43-41Ring Malith makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half43-43Kooper Jacobi makes 12-foot jumper (Nazareth Fisher assists)
- 2nd Half44-43Arnas Sakenis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-43Arnas Sakenis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-43Harrison Alexander makes layup
- 2nd Half49-43CJ Hall makes 14-foot jumper
- 2nd Half50-43Ring Malith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-43Ring Malith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-44Zion Fruster makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-44Ring Malith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-44Ring Malith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-47Andrew Austin makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kooper Jacobi assists)
- 2nd Half56-47Harrison Alexander makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half56-49Terry McMorris makes layup
- 2nd Half59-49Ring Malith makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half59-51Kooper Jacobi makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half59-52Andre Washington makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-53Andre Washington makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-55Terry McMorris makes layup
- 2nd Half60-55Ring Malith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-55Ring Malith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-58Meechie White makes 24-foot three point jumper (Terry McMorris assists)
- 2nd Half61-60Meechie White makes layup (Zion Fruster assists)
- 2nd Half61-61Meechie White makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half61-63Zion Fruster makes layup
- 2nd Half63-63Arnas Sakenis makes layup (Ring Malith assists)
- OT66-63Ring Malith makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jo Valrie assists)
- OT66-64Terry McMorris makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT66-66Andre Washington makes layup
- OT67-66Jack Campion makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT67-68Meechie White makes 16-foot jumper
- OT70-68Ring Malith makes 26-foot three point jumper
- OT70-70Zion Fruster makes 16-foot jumper
- OT70-72Zion Fruster makes 13-foot jumper
- OT70-74Andre Washington makes layup
- OT72-74Jordan Pickett makes layup
- OT72-75Meechie White makes free throw 1 of 2
- OT72-76Meechie White makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Eastern Illinois Panthers, below favours SIU Edwardsville Cougars.
Venue
- Groniger ArenaCharleston, IL
- Attendance869
- OfficialsCoy Gammon, David Carter, James Curran
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