Saturday, March 1st, 8:15 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Lantz Arena (5,300) -- Charleston, Illinois. Television: None. Home Record: Samford 7-7, E. Illinois 4-8. Away Record: Samford 7-7, E. Illinois 2-13. Neutral Record: Samford 0-0, E. Illinois 0-1. Conference Record: Samford 10-9, E. Illinois 5-14. Series Record: Samford leads, 6-2.

GAME NOTES: Ohio Valley Conference foes at opposite ends of the spectrum close out the regular season tonight in Charleston, as the Eastern Illinois Panthers are set to host the Samford Bulldogs at Lantz Arena. The Bulldogs come in as winners of three straight, including a 68-62 victory at Southeast Missouri State on Thursday night that evened their overall ledger at 14-14. The Bulldogs own a 10-9 mark in OVC play, and have posted victories in five of their last seven outings. As for Eastern Illinois, it has dropped three of its last five, but did manage an 80-64 victory over Jacksonville State on Thursday. The Panthers are just 6-22 this season, and they own a mere 5-14 mark in league action. Samford leads 6-2 in terms of the all-time series between the two programs, including wins in five straight over the Panthers.

The Bulldogs shot a solid 48.0 percent from the floor and buried 12-of-27 from beyond the arc during Thursday's six-point victory over SEMO. Samford forced 18 turnovers and held the Redhawks to 44.7 percent shooting. Travis Peterson scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Samford, while Trey Montgomery added 12 points in the win. Josh Bedwell checked in off the bench to contribute 11 points, and Bryan Friday chipped in 10 for the Bulldogs. Peterson leads the club both in scoring (13.1 ppg) as well as on the glass (4.7 rpg) this season, and is joined in double figures by Joe Ross Merritt and Montgomery, who tally 11.7 and 10.3 ppg, respectively. The Bulldogs average a mere 58.5 ppg, but are shooting a respectable 46.4 percent from the field.

EIU is shooting just 43.8 percent from the floor as a team this season, and the Panthers tally a mere 63.2 ppg. Romain Martin leads the Panthers in scoring this season, netting 13.6 ppg, and is joined in double figures by Bobby Catchings and his 10.8 ppg. Jake Byrne poured in a game-high 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead EIU in Thursday's victory over Jacksonville State, a contest in which the Panthers shot a blazing 61.2 percent from the field. The Panthers also hit 6-of-13 from beyond the arc and added 14-of-20 from the charity stripe in the win, and overcame 17 turnovers with a dominating 40-21 besting in the battle of the boards. Tyler Laser added 21 points in the victory, while Ousmane Cisse scored 12 points to go with nine boards.

It's been a miserable season for Eastern Illinois, and there is no reason to believe Samford won't be able to handle the woeful Panthers even on the road.

Predicted Outcome

Samford 66, Eastern Illinois 54