Eastern’s chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois will hold their annual “UPI Night of Basketball” in collaboration with the Eastern men’s and women’s basketball “Pack the Pit” night on Thursday.

The UPI’s event is scheduled between 6 and 7:30 p.m. in the Pool Lounge of Lantz Arena, across from the ticket office.

The party may carry over during halftime of the men’s game, since intermission between the women’s and men’s game is only 15 minutes, David Radavich, Eastern’s UPI president, an English professor, said Wednesday.

Radavich said that the purpose of the event is to get the UPI faculty members to attend the basketball games and to “have a good time” with fellow employees.

Radavich also mentioned that the UPI holds similar fellowship nights four or five times each year during different campus events.

“(The UPI) tries to move around and highlight various events on campus,” Radavich said.

Other events that the UPI has attended are football games, theater events and faculty art exhibitions.

Pizza, soft drinks, pretzels, cookies and other items will be served throughout the night, Radavich said.

The cost to get into the game is $2 per person or $5 per family, but the “UPI Night of Basketball” fellowship party is free to all UPI members.

“Basically, we are coming out to support the Panthers,” Radavich said.

To purchase tickets to the games call 581-2106.