WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Interstat) — The undefeated and No. 1-ranked Purdue Boilermakers return from a weeklong break to host the struggling Eastern Illinois Panthers in a nonconference men’s basketball game Friday at Mackey Arena.

Purdue (6-0) has dominated its early schedule, most recently rolling past then-Texas Tech 86-56 last Friday. In that victory, center Oscar Cluff came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points, while Daniel Jacobsen added 11 points and two blocks. Point guard Braden Smith facilitated the offense with 10 points and seven assists. The Boilermakers’ resume includes wins over then-Alabama and Memphis.

Eastern Illinois (2-4) enters on a two-game skid, including an 81-60 road loss to Central Arkansas on Tuesday. Guard Zion Fruster led the Panthers with 21 points in the defeat, with Terry McMorris adding 11 points. The Panthers have faced two high-major opponents this season, falling 99-53 at Kentucky and 78-58 at Notre Dame.

The game represents a stark contrast in momentum. Purdue’s average margin of victory is 22.3 points, while Eastern Illinois has lost its four games by an average of 20.5 points.

Following this contest, Purdue opens Big Ten play on the road at Rutgers on Tuesday. Eastern Illinois returns home to face Blackburn College on Monday.