Eastern Illinois Panthers vs Lindenwood Lions Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Lindenwood vs Eastern Illinois NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Charleston.

Lindenwood vs Eastern Illinois Prediction

Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Lions versus the Panthers? Tip off is at at 8:30 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Groniger Arena in Charleston, IL. The over/under for this game is set at 137.5 points, and Eastern Illinois is favored by -3.5 vs. Lindenwood in a Ohio Valley conference matchup.

Lindenwood vs. Eastern Illinois Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Lindenwood Lions at Eastern Illinois Panthers
Where: Charleston at Groniger Arena
Date: Thursday, January 2nd
Betting Odds EILL -3.5, JAC +140 | EILL -171 O/U 137.5

Lions Preview: Are Lindenwood Ready for a Road Win?

Lindenwood Lions Recent Game/Games

The Lions improved to 3-7 on the season with a 71-65 home win over Western Illinois on Saturday, December 21st. Lindenwood, favored by 2 points, covered the spread, and the game’s total points of 136 just surpassed the O/U line of 135.5.

Lindenwood led 36-25 at halftime but allowed 40 points in the 2nd half while scoring 35. Despite the defensive lapse, they held on for the win.

Lions Offense Breakdown

Lindenwood's offense put up 71 points in their last game, shooting 48.2% from the field. They were effective inside, hitting 56.1% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 4 of 15 threes for 26.7%.

Ryan Myers and Jadis Jones both had strong performances, with Myers hitting 4 of 7 threes and finishing with 18 points. Jones also added 17 points, shooting 61.5% from the field. Marko Maletic led the team with 19 points, while Julius Rollins contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds despite missing all 6 of his three-point attempts.

Lions Team Defense

Despite shooting 48% from the field, Lindenwood's defense couldn't hold the opponent under 65 points. They allowed 23 two-point baskets on 41 attempts, a 56% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, the opponent shot 26%, hitting 4 of 15 threes. Lindenwood also sent them to the line 18 times, where they made 13 free throws, a 72% clip. The Lions gave up 11 offensive rebounds.

Panthers Preview: Will the Panthers Come Through as Home Favorites?

Eastern Illinois fell to 1-9 on the season after a 79-72 loss to Southeast Missouri State on Thursday. The Panthers, who were +4.5 underdogs, failed to cover the spread in the road game.

Trailing 38-35 at halftime, Eastern Illinois scored 37 points in the 2nd half but allowed 41. The game’s total points of 151 exceeded the O/U line of 139.5.

Panthers Offense Breakdown

Eastern Illinois put up 72 points in their last game, shooting 41.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 46.4%. They connected on 35.7% of their threes, going 5-for-14, and hit 72.4% from the free-throw line, making 21 of 29 attempts. The Panthers grabbed 17 offensive rebounds but managed just 6 assists as a team.

Teddy Washington Jr. led the way with 28 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 5-of-10 from deep and shooting 53.3% overall. Zion Fruster added 15 points, knocking down 3-of-5 threes, while Kooper Jacobi also contributed 15 points and 12 boards. Brendan Terry was efficient, shooting 75% from the field, finishing with 13 points.

Panthers Team Defense

Eastern Illinois struggled defensively, giving up 79 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 56% from the field. The Panthers had a tough time containing shots inside, with the other team hitting 65% of their two-point attempts (17/26).

From beyond the arc, Eastern Illinois allowed 10 threes on 22 attempts, a 45% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the line 20 times, where they converted 15 free throws (75%). The Panthers did limit offensive rebounds, giving up just 5.

Lions vs Panthers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

When looking at their past ten road matchups, Lindenwood has an ATS record of 3-7 while averaging 60 per game. The team went 1-9 overall in these games.
Through their last ten home contests, the Panthers offense has averaged 62 points per game while allowing an average of 79. Eastern Illinois posted an overall record of 0-10 while going 4-6 ATS.
Looking back on the team's last ten games as the underdog, the Lions have a straight up record of 2-8. Their record vs the spread in these games was 5-5.
As the betting favorite, the Panthers have an ATS mark of just 7-3 in their last ten games. Eastern Illinois posted a straight up mark of 8-2 in these matchups.