Southern Indiana Edges Eastern Illinois in Close Contest
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 4:30 PM ET · Groniger Arena
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles 70, Eastern Illinois Panthers 68, 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 Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles vs Eastern Illinois Panthers?
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles beat Eastern Illinois Panthers 70-68 at Groniger Arena on February 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles vs Eastern Illinois Panthers?
Eastern Illinois Panthers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -205 (about 67% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup at Groniger Arena, the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles narrowly defeated the Eastern Illinois Panthers with a final score of 70-68. This victory marks a significant moment for Southern Indiana, who have struggled throughout the season with a record of 7-21, while Eastern Illinois ends their campaign with an 11-18 record. This game was particularly noteworthy as it showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, despite their overall struggles this season.
Eastern Illinois entered the game with a recent record of 4-6 over their last ten games, facing a tough stretch that included a loss to Morehead State just a day prior. The Panthers averaged 70.5 points scored per game while allowing 68.1 points, reflecting a relatively balanced offensive and defensive performance. However, they have been inconsistent, with their last five games resulting in a record of 2-3, where they averaged 69.2 points scored and 71.0 points allowed. At home, their record stood at 2-3 in the last five games, indicating some challenges in maintaining a strong home court advantage.
On the other hand, Southern Indiana's form has been less favorable, with a record of 2-8 in their last ten games. They averaged 66.1 points scored and allowed 71.8 points during this stretch. The Screaming Eagles had recently snapped a long losing streak with a win against Western Illinois, which may have provided a boost in confidence heading into this matchup. Their last five games yielded a record of 1-4, with an average of 68.2 points scored and a concerning 78.2 points allowed. Their away record was particularly weak, with only one win in five attempts.
The head-to-head record favored Eastern Illinois, who had won two of the last three meetings against Southern Indiana. Their previous encounter this season ended with Eastern Illinois winning 59-51. However, Southern Indiana's recent victory in this latest matchup suggests a shift in momentum.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide any specific details, leaving the impact of player availability on both teams unclear. However, both teams have had to navigate a challenging season, which may have influenced their performance in this game.
Betting lines from DraftKings indicated that Eastern Illinois was favored by 4.5 points, with a total set at 135.5. The home moneyline stood at -205, while Southern Indiana was at +170. These odds reflected the expectations surrounding the matchup, considering the Panthers' home advantage and Southern Indiana's struggles throughout the season.
Conditions during the game were not detailed in the block, but the atmosphere in Groniger Arena was likely charged, given the stakes of the matchup for both teams. As the game unfolded, viewers witnessed a tightly contested battle, with both teams exchanging leads and showcasing their determination to secure a win.
Key moments in the second half included critical scoring plays that shifted the momentum. Terry McMorris made a crucial free throw to give Southern Indiana a slight edge at 63-62. Josiah Dunham responded with a three-pointer, pushing the Eagles' lead to 66-62. Eastern Illinois fought back with Zion Fruster's jumper and subsequent free throw, bringing the score to 66-65. However, Southern Indiana maintained their composure, with Ismail Habib sinking a clutch three-pointer to seal the game at 70-68.
Ultimately, this matchup served as a testament to the resilience of both teams. Southern Indiana's victory not only adds a much-needed win to their season but also highlights the unpredictable nature of college basketball, where any team can emerge victorious on any given night.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | EIU -4.5 | 135.5 o -110 / u -110 | Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles +170 · Eastern Illinois Panthers -205 |
Leaders
- PointsZion Fruster28Eastern Illinois Panthers
- AssistsMeechie White6Eastern Illinois Panthers
- ReboundsKooper Jacobi9Eastern Illinois Panthers
- PointsAmaree Brown22Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
- AssistsAmaree Brown4Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
- ReboundsTolu Samuels11Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
Recent form
Eastern Illinois Panthers
Last 10: 4-6Streak L170.5 scored · 68.1 allowed per game2-3 at home
- 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
- W105-49vs Blackburn BeaversJan 18
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles
Last 10: 2-8Streak W166.1 scored · 71.8 allowed per game1-3 away
- W77-70at Western Illinois LeathernecksFeb 20
- L74-82vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesFeb 14
- L71-73vs Tennessee State TigersFeb 13
- L65-90at Southeast Missouri State RedhawksFeb 7
- L54-76at UT Martin SkyhawksFeb 6
- L46-58vs SIU Edwardsville CougarsFeb 1
- L60-73vs Lindenwood LionsJan 30
- W96-64vs Western Illinois LeathernecksJan 24
- L51-59vs Eastern Illinois PanthersJan 23
- L67-73at Tennessee State TigersJan 17
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 | Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles | Eastern Illinois Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 21-51 | 25-64 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 39 |
| Three-pointers | 9-17 | 3-10 |
| Three-point % | 53 | 30 |
| Free throws | 19-23 | 15-19 |
| Free throw % | 83 | 79 |
| Rebounds | 31 | 40 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 18 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 22 |
| Assists | 15 | 13 |
| Steals | 4 | 7 |
| Blocks | 8 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 17 |
| Points in the paint | 18 | 36 |
| Fouls | 16 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 22 | 2 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 91 | 5 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half46-29Meechie White makes driving layup
- 2nd Half46-31Kooper Jacobi makes layup
- 2nd Half46-33Meechie White makes layup
- 2nd Half46-35Terry McMorris makes driving layup
- 2nd Half47-35Ola Ajiboye makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-35Ola Ajiboye makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-37Kooper Jacobi makes layup (Nazareth Fisher assists)
- 2nd Half48-38Terry McMorris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-38Ola Ajiboye makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-38Ola Ajiboye makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-40Nazareth Fisher makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half51-40Amaree Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-40Amaree Brown makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-41Nazareth Fisher makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-41Sheridan Sharp makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-41Sheridan Sharp makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-43Meechie White makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half56-43Cardell Bailey makes 20-foot jumper
- 2nd Half56-44Meechie White makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-45Meechie White makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-45Ismail Habib makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-45Ismail Habib makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-47Zion Fruster makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half58-50Meechie White makes 23-foot three point jumper (Terry McMorris assists)
- 2nd Half58-53Zion Fruster makes 23-foot three point jumper (Meechie White assists)
- 2nd Half58-55Kooper Jacobi makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half60-55Amaree Brown makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half60-57Kooper Jacobi makes layup (Meechie White assists)
- 2nd Half60-58Kooper Jacobi makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half63-58Amaree Brown makes 25-foot three point jumper (Josiah Dunham assists)
- 2nd Half63-60Zion Fruster makes 13-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half63-61Terry McMorris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-62Terry McMorris makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-62Josiah Dunham makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ismail Habib assists)
- 2nd Half66-64Zion Fruster makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half66-65Zion Fruster makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-67Zion Fruster makes layup (Kooper Jacobi assists)
- 2nd Half66-68Terry McMorris makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-68Ismail Habib makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-68Ismail Habib makes 25-foot three point jumper (Josiah Dunham assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Eastern Illinois Panthers, below favours Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles.
Venue
- Groniger ArenaCharleston, IL
- Attendance1836
- OfficialsJohn Dillon, Eric Dust, John Boylan Jr.
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond