Game 28
SIUE Cougars (17-10, 8-6 OVC) 
at UT Martin Skyhawks (16-11, 8-6 OVC) 
Thursday, February 16, 8:00 p.m. 
Elam Center (4,300), Martin, Tennessee

LAST TIME OUT 
SIUE couldn't overcome a strong shooting performance from Eastern Illinois Saturday. The Cougars fell to the Panthers 84-73 in front of the largest crowd of the year, 2,513, at First Community Arena. The loss snapped a three-game winning steak for SIUE. Eastern Illinois connected on 57 percent of its shots overall and knocked down 7-13 (54 percent) three-pointers. After the Cougars got out to a 7-5 lead early in the first half, the Panthers used a 14-2 run to take a 10-point advantage at 19-9. EIU stretched its lead to 25-11 before a 9-0 run by SIUE made it 25-20. The Panthers led 35-31 at halftime. The Cougars pulled within two twice early in the second half.

CONFERENCE CALL
SIUE is playing its 12th season in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Cougars are 66-135 in the OVC. Brian Barone is 25-44 in his fourth season in the league.

RECORD WINS
With 17 overall wins, SIUE has won its most games at the Division I level. Seven road wins also is a program high at Division I. Eight OVC wins ties the program best. 

BLOCK PARTY
SIUE tied the school record for blocks with 11 against Illinois Tech. The Cougars lead the OVC in blocks at 4.0 per game, which ranks 74th in the NCAA. Five Cougars appear in the top 14 individually in the OVC. 

DO IT FOR FREE
SIUE is second in the OVC in free throw percentage at .733. The Cougars lead the league in free throws made per game at 16.5, which ranks 16th in the NCAA and attempts at 22.5, which is 19th nationally. SIUE has had eight games this year with at least 30 free throw attempts. The Cougars attempted 41 free throws Jan.5 vs. Tennessee State, which was the most in a single game since 2018.

WRIGHT PLACE
With 15 points against UT Martin, Shamar Wright eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau for his career, becomming the 17th player at SIUE to do so. He has 1,040 career points, which is 15th all-time at SIUE. He is averaging a career-best 10.9 points per game. He scored a season-best 19 against Southern Indiana.