# 2021–22 Eastern Illinois Panthers men's basketball team

The 2021–22 Eastern Illinois Panthers men's basketball team represented Eastern Illinois University in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Panthers, led by first-year head coach Marty Simmons, played their home games at Lantz Arena in Charleston, Illinois as members of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). They finished the season 5–26, 3–15 in OVC play, to finish in last place. They failed to qualify for the OVC tournament.

## Previous season

In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Panthers finished the 2020–21 season 9–18, 6–14 in OVC play, to finish in a tie for ninth place. They failed to qualify for the OVC tournament.
On March 4, 2021, the school announced that they would not renew head coach Jay Spoonhour's contract. On March 31, the school named Clemson assistant and former Evansville head coach Marty Simmons as the team's new head coach.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Non-conference regular season ||||||
| November 9, 2021* 7:00 p.m., BTN+ | at Northwestern | L 56–80 | 0–1 | Welsh–Ryan Arena (2,753) Evanston, IL |
| November 12, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | at Saint Louis | L 44–86 | 0–2 | Chaifetz Arena (5,433) St. Louis, MO |
| November 15, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | Central Michigan | L 61–62 | 0–3 | Lantz Arena (1,175) Charleston, IL |
| November 18, 2021* 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | Rockford | W 96–64 | 1–3 | Lantz Arena (705) Charleston, IL |
| November 22, 2021* 6:00 p.m., ESPN+ | at Eastern Kentucky Eastern Kentucky MTE tournament | L 43–82 | 1–4 | McBrayer Arena (2,196) Richmond, KY |
| November 24, 2021* 11:00 a.m. | vs. Albany Eastern Kentucky MTE tournament | L 62–64 | 1–5 | McBrayer Arena (100) Richmond, KY |
| November 28, 2021* 1:00 p.m., ESPN+ | Evansville | L 54–70 | 1–6 | Lantz Arena (1,011) Charleston, IL |
| December 1, 2021* 7:00 p.m. | at Northern Illinois | L 45–54 | 1–7 | Convocation Center (1,153) DeKalb, IL |
| December 4, 2021* 2:00 p.m. | North Park | W 76–71 | 2–7 | Lantz Arena (931) Charleston, IL |
| December 7, 2021* 7:00 p.m., SECN+ | at Missouri | L 44–72 | 2–8 | Mizzou Arena (6,335) Columbia, MO |
| December 11, 2021* 3:00 p.m., FS1 | at Butler | L 54–66 | 2–9 | Hinkle Fieldhouse (7,654) Indianapolis, IN |
| December 18, 2021* 2:00 p.m. | at Western Illinois | L 54–71 | 2–10 | Western Hall (1,004) Macomb, IL |
| December 21, 2021* 6:00 p.m., ESPN3 | at Ball State | L 55–75 | 2–11 | Worthen Arena (3,279) Muncie, IN |
| Ohio Valley regular season ||||||
| December 29, 2021 6:00 p.m., ESPN+ | at Morehead State | L 50–63 | 2–12 (0–1) | Ellis Johnson Arena (1,466) Morehead, KY |
| January 13, 2022 8:00 p.m., ESPNU | SIU Edwardsville | L 53–66 | 2–13 (0–2) | Lantz Arena (1,409) Charleston, IL |
| January 17, 2022 3:30 p.m., ESPNN | Murray State Rescheduled from January 6 | L 46–72 | 2–14 (0–3) | Lantz Arena (1,117) Charleston, IL |
| January 20, 2022 7:40 p.m., ESPN+ | at Murray State | L 51–91 | 2–15 (0–4) | CFSB Center (3,820) Murray, KY |
| January 22, 2022 3:30 p.m., ESPN+ | Southeast Missouri State | L 58–87 | 2–16 (0–5) | Lantz Arena (869) Charleston, IL |
| January 24, 2022 3:30 p.m., ESPN+ | Belmont Rescheduled from January 1 | L 56–90 | 2–17 (0–6) | Lantz Arena (823) Charleston, IL |
| January 27, 2022 8:00 p.m., ESPN+ | at UT Martin | W 58–53 | 3–17 (1–6) | Skyhawk Arena (1,124) Martin, TN |
| January 29, 2022 3:30 p.m., ESPN+ | Tennessee State | W 62–57 | 4–17 (2–6) | Lantz Arena (1,513) Charleston, IL |
| February 5, 2022 4:00 p.m., ESPN+ | at Southeast Missouri State | L 56–63 | 4–18 (2–7) | Show Me Center (924) Cape Girardeau, MO |
| February 7, 2022 3:00 p.m., ESPN+ | at Tennessee Tech Rescheduled from January 8 | L 58–84 | 4–19 (2–8) | Eblen Center (804) Cookeville, TN |
| February 10, 2022 7:30 p.m., ESPN+ | Tennessee Tech | L 62–73 | 4–20 (2–9) | Lantz Arena (726) Charleston, IL |
| February 12, 2022 3:30 p.m., ESPN+ | UT Martin | W 82–70 | 5–20 (3–9) | Lantz Arena (1,225) Charleston, IL |
| February 14, 2022 4:00 p.m., ESPN+ | at Austin Peay Rescheduled from January 15 | L 54–62 | 5–21 (3–10) | Dunn Center (747) Clarksville, TN |
| February 17, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN+ | at Belmont | L 57–81 | 5–22 (3–11) | Curb Event Center (1,882) Nashville, TN |
| February 19, 2022 3:00 p.m., ESPN+ | at Tennessee State | L 49–63 | 5–23 (3–12) | Gentry Complex (1,036) Nashville, TN |
| February 21, 2022 7:30 p.m., ESPN+ | at SIU Edwardsville Rescheduled from February 3 | L 52–66 | 5–24 (3–13) | First Community Arena (692) Edwardsville, IL |
| February 24, 2022 7:30 p.m., ESPN+ | Morehead State | L 46–82 | 5–25 (3–14) | Lantz Arena (832) Charleston, IL |
| February 26, 2022 3:30 p.m., ESPN+ | Austin Peay | L 52–64 | 5–26 (3–15) | Lantz Arena (1,130) Charleston, IL |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central. ||||||
Sources: