The Eastern men’s basketball team released its 2014-15 schedule Thursday which is highlighted by 13 home games in Lantz Arena and participation in the Emerald Coast Classic.

Eastern opens the season on the road at Missouri State on Nov. 14, as the game will be used to honor third-year Eastern coach Jay Spoonhour’s dad, Charlie Spoonhour, the former coach at Missouri State.

The Panthers then return home for games against Eureka College and UC Davis.

Following the two-game home stand, Eastern opens play in the Emerald Coast Classic on Nov. 23

Eastern will first play at Cincinnati, the first of three straight NCAA Tournament teams the Panthers will see.

Eastern then travels to Creighton as part of the tournament on Nov. 25 before traveling to play the final two games in Niceville, Fla.

Eastern will finish the Classic against North Carolina Central and either Northern Arizona or Southern University in the final game.

Creighton advanced to the third round in last year’s NCAA Tournament, while Cincinnati and North Carolina Central played in the second round.

The Panthers open December at home in Lantz Arena with Ball State on Dec. 3 and Northern Illinois on Dec. 13.

A second game UC Davis on Dec. 9 will follow, only this time on the road in Davis, Calif., then the Panthers will visit at Indiana State and Cleveland State just before winter break.
On New Years’ Day, Eastern will begin the first of its 15 games in the Ohio Valley Conference, as it hosts Tennessee Tech.

Eastern finished last year with an 11-19 record (7-9 in the OVC) with a 79-61 loss in the first round of the conference tournament in Nashville, Tenn.

Anthony Catezone can be reached at 581-2812 or ajcatezone@eiu.edu.