Eastern’s men’s basketball team will play its most important game of the season against Morehead State.

The Panthers need a win if they want any hope of making the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

Right now, they stand in ninth place at 5-9 and are one game behind Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State, who hold the final three spots at 6-8 in conference play.

The last time Eastern played Morehead, it lost by one point in Lantz Arena on Feb. 4; however, since that loss, the Panthers are 3-1 overall, with the three wins coming against OVC teams.

At 8-6 in conference play the Eagles have already clinched a spot in the conference tournament; although, they are still fighting for a possible third seed in the tournament.

Morehead is one of the best defensive teams in the OVC, giving up just 62 points per game and ranks second behind Murray State in terms of scoring defense.

The Eagles are also tied for first in the conference in steals per game (8.2).

Morehead has been playing most of the season without its best player. Senior guard Terrance Hill was one of the best three-point shooters in the OVC but is out for the season with a left knee injury.

Prior to his injury, Hill was averaging 13.3 points and 1.3 steals per game, while shooting 38 percent from beyond the three-point line.

Senior guard Ty Proffitt has stepped up in Hills absence scoring a team-high 10.1 points per game.

He is also dishing out two assists and grabbing two rebounds per game, while shooting 37 percent from behind the three-point arc.

Junior forward Milton Chavis is the Eagles’ anchor on defense.

He grabs 4.3 rebounds and steals one ball per game.

He also leads the team in blocks. In his first season of action,

Chavis is scoring 7.7 points per game on 52 percent shooting from the field. The Panthers are led by senior guard Jeremy Granger.

The 6-foot-1-inch team captain is averaging 15.6 points per game. He also leads the team in assists, steals and free throw shooting.

Freshman guard Joey Miller gives Granger a solid option in the backcourt. Miller is scoring 10.6 points per game, while shooting 30 percent from beyond the three-point line.

Sophomore forward Alfonzo McKinnie gives the Panthers a threat in the low post with his activity and rebounding. He is averaging 10 points per game and leads the team with seven rebounds and one block per game.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today in Ellis T. Johnson Arena in Morehead, Ken.

The Panthers are 5-8 on the road this season.

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