Coming off its third Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season, the Eastern men’s basketball team aims to even up its conference record against rival Eastern Kentucky.

After losing to Southeast Missouri, when the Panthers held a 17-point lead in the second half, head coach Mike Miller said it is important that the team bounces back.

Eastern is scheduled to tip-off against Eastern Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. in Lantz Arena, where the Panthers are 4-3 this season.

“As you get into league play, opponents are as different as can be,” Miller said.

The last time Eastern and Eastern Kentucky played, the Panthers won 77-54 last season, which was part of their eight-game winning-streak to end the regular season.

Eastern Kentucky is a balanced team; however, it is led in scoring and rebounding by forward Spencer Perrin, who averages 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

Guards Josh Daniel and Justin Stommes are an accurate three-point shooting tandem as they shoot more than 40 percent from beyond the arc.

The Colonels are among a few select teams that run a half-court trap defense. According to Miller, they also run a hybrid of the Princeton offense.

“(Eastern Kentucky) plays different than what you see everyday, and they have been very effective in how they play,” Miller said.

The Panthers will enter the game with a record of 6-9 overall and 2-3 in the OVC, while Eastern Kentucky comes in at 7-9 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

Senior guard Tyler Laser will miss his sixth straight game with a back injury. When healthy, Laser is among the OVC’s best three-point shooters. Miller said there is no set return date for Laser.

“(Laser) has got an appointment with the doctor next week and we will know a little bit more then, but right now we are going week to week,” Miller said.

With Laser out, the Panthers lose experience against the Colonels’ trapping defense. Miller said the team is counting on young players to set up in his place.

“These new guys are trying to find this identity are now going to see something they have never seen before,” Miller said.

Six of the Panthers next eight OVC games will be in Lantz Arena. Miller said this is a key stretch to make up some early ground in the conference standings.

“We have got to play consistently, that’s the big thing,” Miller said.

Rob Mortell can be reached at 581-7944 or rdmortell@eiu.edu.

L.C. Doss, a junior guard, passes the ball to Alfonso McKinnie, a freshman forward, during the game against Anderson University Jan. 3 in Lantz Arena. The Panthers play Eastern Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Lantz Arena. (Audrey Sawyer

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