Ja'Quavian Florence | Photo: Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
Ja'Quavian Florence | Photo: Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
January 6, 2026

Golden Eagles aim to get back on track at Eastern Illinois

Tennessee Tech men’s basketball is back on the road to face Eastern Illinois as it continues OVC play this weekend in Illinois. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8. Watch the game live on ESPN+ and listen on 106.1 The Eagle.

Game Notes Audio ESPN+ Live stats Recap Box Score (PDF) Box Score

By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Tennessee Tech men's basketball is back on the road to face Eastern Illinois as it continues OVC play this weekend in Illinois. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8. Watch the game live on ESPN+ and listen on 106.1 The Eagle.

GAME INFORMATION
 Matchup: Tennessee Tech (6-9, 1-3 OVC) at Eastern Illinois (4-10, 1-3 OVC)
Date & Time: Thursday, Jan. 8 | 7:30 p.m. CT.
Venue: Groniger Arena
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle | Dylan Vazzano (PxP) and Frank Harrell (Analyst)

TECH NOTES
 The Golden Eagles slipped to 6-9 overall and 1-3 in OVC play with a 77-58 loss at Little Rock on New Year's Day.

Tennessee Tech has lost three straight heading into this matchup with Eastern Illinois (4-10, 1-3). EIU has lost two straight and enters the contest 1-3 in OVC play, after dropping games at SEMO (L, 59-68) and at UT Martin (L, 61-65). EIU earned its lone conference win with a 76-72 OT victory over SIUE at home. 

Tech won both meetings with EIU last season; each by five points, 69-64 (1/9/25) on the road, and 59-54 (2/8/25) at home. The two wins give the Golden Eagles a 34-19 lead in the all-time series and a three-game winning streak in the series. TTU has won eight of the last nine matchups, including a five-game winning streak from Feb. 13, 2021, to Feb. 25, 2023.

On the road, Tech is 14-12 on the road and 20-6 at home against EIU all time. The series dates to 1981, when TTU and EIU split the first four matchups (2-2) from 1981 to 1997. In the last meeting, JaJuan Nicholls was one of four Golden Eagles in double figures with 11 points on 5-10 from the field with four rebounds in the 59-54 win at home against EIU on Feb. 8, 2025.

Mekhi Cameron leads the Golden Eagles with 11.6 points per game. Dani Pounds is second on the team with 11.5 ppg, and Brandon Muntu is third on the team with 10.3 ppg. Leading the third-highest scoring offense in the OVC (78.0 ppg)

After taking down SEMO (W, 85-74) to open OVC play 1-0, the Golden Eagles have dropped three straight games (UT Martin; L, 62-86), (TSU; L, 76-88), (at Little Rock; L, 58-77).

INSIDE THE SERIES
 Overall: TTU leads 34-19
In Cookeville: TTU leads 20-6.
In Charleston, Ill.: TTU leads 14-12.
Neutral sites: TTU is 0-1
Current Streak: TTU has won three straight.
Last Meeting: TTU won 59-54 at home on Feb. 8, 2025.

OPPONENT NOTES
 Eastern Illinois has dropped two straight games to fall to 4-10 overall and 1-3 in OVC play. The Panthers are 4-2 at home this season with wins over Nicholls (W, 65-57), Tiffin (W, 62-50), SIUE (W, 76-72 OT), and East-West University (W, 110-56). Most recently, EIU forced 14 steals, leading to 23 points off turnovers, but two late three-pointers by UT Martin lifted the Skyhawks to a 65-61 win on Jan. 3. EIU led 41-34 at the half, closing with a 7-0 run on baskets by Zion Fruster, Malik Olafioye, and Meechie White. 

On the season, Zion Fruster leads all Panthers with 15.9 ppg, and Meechie White is second on the team with 10.4 ppg (min: 10 GP). Terry McMorris leads EIU with 6.4 rebounds per game.

NEXT UP
 The Golden Eagles traverse the land of Lincoln to Western Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 10. The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Watch on ESPN+ and listen on 106.1 The Eagle. Following the road trip to Illinois, the Golden Eagles return to Eblen Center on Jan. 15 against Southern Indiana with the opening tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.