Eastern Kentucky University’s men’s basketball team will travel to play Illinois State, which is ranked No. 18 among mid-major programs, on Wednesday. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Fans can also listen to the audio broadcast through EKUSports.com and the EKUSports app.
EKU enters the matchup with a 1-6 record after an 83-77 loss to Wofford last Saturday. Freshman guard MJ Williams came close to recording only the second triple-double in program history, finishing with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in that game. The Colonels struggled offensively in the first half against Wofford, shooting just 23%, but improved to 55% in the second half.
With Montavious Myrick sidelined due to injury, Yvens Paul has increased his rebounding contributions. He set a career high with nine rebounds against Northern Kentucky and then surpassed it with ten rebounds against Wofford.
Illinois State currently holds a 6-2 record and has won five consecutive games. The Redbirds recently secured victories over Charlotte (79-69) and Furman (72-65) at the Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational Imagination Bracket in Kissimmee, Florida. This season, Illinois State is averaging 79 points per game while allowing opponents an average of 66 points. The team is shooting 47% from the field and holding opponents to just 28% from three-point range.
Freshman guard Ty’Reek Coleman leads Illinois State in scoring at 13.6 points per game, while five players average between ten and 13.6 points per contest. Chase Walker (5.6 rebounds per game) and Brandon Lieb (5.5 rebounds per game) are leading rebounders for the Redbirds. Walker was named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference last season as a junior forward, while Lieb transferred from Illinois after missing last season due to injury.
The two teams have met only once before; Illinois State won that matchup on November 30, 1996 by a score of 87-64 in Normal, Illinois.
