Men’s basketball at the top of OVC statistics
Kinyon Hodges, a junior guard, scrambles after a loose ball during the men’s basketball game against the University of Southern Indiana Eagles on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 31, 2022, at Lantz Arena. Hodges scored 10 points and had three assists. The Panthers won 91-80 against the Eagles.
January 10, 2023
The Eastern men’s basketball team is 2-2 in the OVC with multiple Panthers in the top 20 of various OVC statistics.
Last season, the Panthers started off their OVC play with six losses in a row, and ended the season with three OVC wins and 15 losses.
The first OVC win for the Panthers was against Lindenwood back on Dec. 29 by a margin of 55-54. Junior guard Kinyon Hodges led the Panthers against the Lions with 15 points, three rebounds, and five steals.
The second win was against Southern Indiana after the Panthers beat the Screaming Eagles 91-80. There were three Panthers in double digits with sophomore guard Dan Luers leading the way with 20 points, six rebounds, and one steal.
Graduate student guard Yaakema Rose Jr. had 12 points, four rebounds, and one steal. Hodges had another solid performance with 10 points and two steals.
Tennessee Tech and Morehead State have both defeated the Panthers so far this season. The Golden Eagles won 70-49 and the Eagles won 69-59.
Both Rose Jr. and Luers had seven points apiece against the Golden Eagles. Hodges was back on top with 12 points and two rebounds against the Eagles while Rose Jr. followed behind with eight points and three rebounds.
Hodges is first in the OVC in field goal percentage with a .487 with 77 field goals made out of 158 attempts. Hodges is ninth in the OVC in assists with 45, averaging 3.0 per game.
Rose Jr. is 10th in the OVC in assists with 50, averaging 2.9 per game.
As for scoring, Hodges is the only Panther in the top 20 in the OVC, sitting at 17th place. Hodges has 185 points in OVC play, including 77 field goals, 10 3-pointers, and 21 free throws.
Junior center Nick Ellington and freshman center Kyle Thomas are tied in the OVC for blocked shots as they both have 11 and are averaging 0.6 per game.
Freshman forward Sincere Malone and Rose Jr. have both found their way to the top of the OVC steals statistics. Malone leads the OVC with 33 steals and Rose Jr. is third with 30 steals. Hodges is sitting at 11thplace with 22.
All of the men’s basketball teams are currently tied in one way or another. SIUE and Morehead are tied for first place with 3-1 records.
Tennessee State, UT Martin, Lindenwood, Southeast Missouri, Eastern, and Tennessee Tech all have a 2-2 record.
Southern Indiana and Little Rock are at the bottom of the conference, both with 1-3 records.
The Panthers’ next OVC matchup will be Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against SIUE in Lantz Arena.
Autumn Schulz can be reached at 581-2812 or acschulz@eiu.edu
