Mike Lewis Coaching Legacy

[grismosw]

Eastern Illinois (16-7, 13-3) @ SE Missouri State (9-14, 7-8)
February 7, 2009
Show Me Center, Cape Girardeau (MO)

The Redhawks present a difficult matchup for the Panthers with their length, athleticism and style. Earlier this year they really frustrated EIU but were not able to capitalize. Tonight was a different story as SE Missouri jumped out to a 22-2 lead by clicking on all cylinders on both ends of the floor. The Panthers seemed helpless for much of the first half but were able to cut the lead to 13 at one point before letting the Redhawks go on another run and face a deficit of 40-22 at the half. The one bright spot for the Panthers is Tyler Laser, he has 14 points while connecting on 4 of 6 from deep.

In the 2nd half it was more of the same with the Redhawks extending their lead to 35 at one point and they cruised to an easy victory ending the Panthers winning streak, 82-52. SE Missouri shot 59% (33/56) from the field and 29% (5/17) from deep while EIU shot 35% (21/60) from the field and 38% (9/24) from deep. SE Missouri dominated the glass with a 39-21 advantage, they also dominated the paint with a 42-10 advantage.

Up next EIU takes on a disappointing Murray State (12-11, 7-9) team. The Panthers beat them 66-55 earlier this season.

Eastern Illinois Top Performers
T. Laser - 18 pts, 5/9 3P
R. Martin - 13 pts, 6/16 FG
M. Robinson - 11 pts, 3 ast, 4/14 FG

SE Missouri Top Performers
C. Williams - 12 pts, 8 reb, 5/5 FG
L. Henderson - 8 pts, 8 reb, 2 blk, 4/5 FG
R. Pearson - 4 pts, 9 ast

[grismosw]

Murray Sate (12-11, 7-9) @ Eastern Illinois (16-8, 13-4)
February 12, 2009
Lantz Arena, Charleston (IL)

The Racers are possibly the OVC's most underachieving team this season, many predicted them to win the conference but they just can't seem to get it together. They showed everyone in attendance at tonight's game why so many thought they were the team to beat, drubbing the Panthers 79-39 leaving many in the Panther community wandering what happened to our guys?

The Panthers again struggled on both ends of the court, shooting just 31% (15/49) from the field and 27% (4/15) from deep while allowing the Racers to shoot 58% (30/52) from the field and 56% (10/18) from deep. The struggles in the paint continued on offense with just 2 points coming in the paint.

Up next is another team many thought would compete for the conference championship Austin Peay.

Eastern Illinois Top Performers
D. Armstrong - 9 pts, 7 reb, 4/8 FG
R. Martin - 15 pts, 6/17 FG
L. Barro - 6 pts, 4 ast

Murray State Top Performers
I. Miles - 24 pts, 5 ast
D. Thomas - 19 pts, 8 reb
T. Easley - 10 pts, 9 reb

[VandyRedskins21]

I've just caught up on your thread. Have fun against Austin Peay's 2-3 zone haha

[grismosw]

Eastern Illinois (16-9, 13-5) @ Austin Peay (15-11, 9-7)
February 14, 2009
Dave Aaron Arena, Clarksville (TN)

Before the game there was a bit of good news, with Moorehead State losing the Panthers have captured at least a share of the regular season Championship and are now playing for the #1 seed in the Conference Tournament.

There were two marquee matchups in this game, at Power Forward Austin Peay's Drake Reed vs. Eastern Illinois' Dave Armstrong and at Shooting Guard Austin Peay's Wes Channels vs. Eastern Illinois' Romain Martin. Only one matchup lived up to the hype though, Channels and Martin dueled it out all the way to the end with Channels have an early lead at the half 11 points to 10 points for Martin but EIU led 33-29 going into the break.

The second half featured see-saw action with both teams exchanging leads and neither taking more than a 3 point lead at any given time. Channels cooled off but Martin heated up. After AP's Ernest Fields hit a 15 foot jumper to give AP the 63-62 lead with 3.8 seconds to play, everyone in the building knew whom the Panthers would go to and Martin connected on a 3 at the buzzer giving the Panthers a 65-63 win on his way to 30 points.

The win gives the Panthers the outright regular season championship in the Ohio Valley Conference and the #1 seed in the Conference Tournament. EIU finishes its regular season against Tennessee-Martin (12-12, 8-10).

Eastern Illinois Top Performers
R. Martin - 30 pts, 12/17 FG, 4/7 3P
D. Armstrong - 8 pts, 9 reb
M. Dorlack - 6 pts, 8 reb

Austin Peay Top Performers
E. Fields - 16 pts, 16 reb
W. Channels - 15 pts
D. Reed - 7 pts, 4 ast, 3 reb

[grismosw]

Tennessee-Martin (12-12, 8-10) @ Eastern Illinois (17-9, 14-5)
February 26, 2009
Lantz Arena

The last time these two met EIU jumped out early and never looked back, largely due to holding reigning and likely OVC Player of the Year Lester Hudson in check (18 pts, 3 ast).

Prior to the game the Panthers honored their two seniors, Mike Robinson and Billy Parrish. Robinson wasn't going to let the few people in attendance be disappointed as he led the way to a 68-58 win over UT-Martin. Robinson had 19 points and 3 assists on the night. The Skyhawks led for most of the game including a 35-31 lead at the half but the Panthers never let the lead get insurmountable. In the second half it looked as if this one was going down to the wire but then EIU caught fire with Robinson, Romain Martin, and Tyler Laser all hitting threes to give the Panthers a 58-48 lead with under 4 to play.

From there the Panthers coasted before pulling Robinson and Parrish to a standing ovation. UT-Martin's Lester Hudson tried his best to mount a furious comeback but they fell short despite his 19 points and 4 rebounds. The Panthers dominated the glass with Armstrong, Dorlack, and Cisse combining for 27 rebounds.

Eastern Illinois Top Performers
M. Robinson - 19 pts, 3 ast, 6/13 FG
R. Martin - 19 pts, 3/5 3P
D. Armstrong - 8 pts, 9 reb

UT-Martin Top Performers
L. Hudson - 19 pts, 4 reb, 3/4 3P
C. Wright - 18 pts, 5 ast, 4/6 3P

[grismosw]

Ohio Valley Conference Tournament
at Thompson-Boling Arena (Tennessee)

1) Eastern Illinois (18-9, 15-5)
8) Eastern Kentucky (11-15, 9-11)

4) Tennessee Tech (13-13, 11-9)
5) Austin Peay (16-14, 10-10)

3) Morehead State (15-13, 12-8)
6) Murray State (14-13, 9-11)

2) Samford (15-11, 13-7)
7) UT-Martin (13-13, 9-11)

We catch somewhat of a break because Eastern Kentucky beat SE Missouri head to head we play EKU instead of the SE Missouri team that just dominated us a few weeks ago.

[grismosw]

(8) Eastern Kentucky vs. (1) Eastern Illinois
OVC Tournament
EIU won both meetings during regular season.

Heading into the season it was thought that the OVC Championship was wide open, it was evident during the regular season that there wasn't much separation from the top to the bottom. Eastern Kentucky reminded us of the depth in the OVC this year, EKU opened the game with a 18-8 advantage but Eastern Illinois battled back to tie it but fell behind again before the end of the first half. As the game went to halftime EKU led 30-25, behind a strong effort from senior small forward Mike Rose.

In the second half both teams battled back and forth exchanging leads with both teams threatening to pull away before the final minutes. Eastern Illinois had just squandered a 5 points lead in the final 3 minutes, but clinging to a 55-54 lead with less than 30 seconds to play and the ball. EKU chose to foul immediately and fouled Dave Armstrong who missed the front end of the one-and-one. EKU raced down the court but Rose's jumper fell short and Armstrong quickly got the ball to Mike Robinson whom was then fouled. Robinson hit the front end but missed his second free throw.

Trailing 56-54 EKU had 1 last chance with 14 seconds to play. EKU quickly moved the ball up the court, swinging the ball around the perimeter finding sophomore shooting guard Justin Stommes in the corner for a contested 3...HE HIT IT! 57-56 EKU, with 1.7 seconds to play. The Panthers tried to throw it the length of the court to get a last chance but the pass was errant and EKU went on to win 59-56.

Eastern Illinois Top Performers
D. Armstrong - 13 pts, 9 reb
T. Laser - 13 pts, 3/4 3P
M. Robinson - 9 pts, 6 ast, 3 reb

Eastern Kentucky Top Performers
G. Gooding - 10 pts, 11 reb
M. Rose - 13 pts, 6/12 FG
A. Leonard - 9 pts, 5 ast

[grismosw]

OVC Tournament
1st Round Results and Semifinal Matchups

1st Round Results
(8) Eastern Kentucky 59, (1) Eastern Illinois 56
(4) Tennessee Tech 79, (5) Austin Peay 74
(6) Murray State 61, (3) Morehead State 54
(7) Tennessee-Martin 72, (2) Samford 56

Semifinal Matchups
(8) Eastern Kentucky
(4) Tennessee Tech

(6) Murray State
(7) Tennessee-Martin