CHARLESTON, Ill. (Interstat) — A surging Tennessee-Martin squad looks to continue its Ohio Valley Conference ascent when it visits Eastern Illinois on Thursday night at Lantz Arena.

The Skyhawks (15-5, 5-2 OVC) enter with the league’s best overall record and have won seven of their last eight games. Their only stumble in that stretch was a 66-50 road loss at Southeast Missouri State on Jan. 20. They will aim to bounce back and complete a regular-season sweep of the Panthers.

Eastern Illinois (9-12, 4-4) seeks to even the score after a narrow 65-61 loss in Martin on Jan. 3. The Panthers have shown resilience at home, winning three of their last four in Charleston, but consistency has been elusive.

Tennessee-Martin is powered by guard Matas Deniusas, who torched the Panthers for 19 points in the first meeting. Over his last seven games, Deniusas is averaging 11.7 points and has been a key two-way contributor. The Skyhawks’ balanced attack and stout defense, which held EIU to 37% shooting in the previous matchup, have been trademarks of their successful season.

The Panthers will counter with guard Preston Turner, who is coming off an 18-point performance in a close loss at Morehead State on Jan. 24. Turner’s scoring punch is vital for an Eastern Illinois offense that averages just 68.2 points per game, the lowest in the OVC.

Tennessee-Martin’s conference title hopes hinge on winning road games like this, while Eastern Illinois aims to climb back to .500 in league play. The Skyhawks won both meetings last season by a combined seven points, signaling another tight contest is likely.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.