Following a 1-3 record at the Emerald Coast Classic during Thanksgiving break, the Eastern basketball team returns home to host Ball State University at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lantz Arena.

The Cardinals (2-2) enter the game with nine days of rest, playing last on Nov. 24, when they beat Grambling State 88-46 at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Ind.

Eastern (2-5) goes up against Ball State for the first time since the 2010-11 season, when the Cardinals won both ends of the teams’ home-and-home series.

At 2-2, the Cardinals have used 3-point shooting to invigorate their offense. Against Grambling State, Ball State made 50 percent of its field goals from 3-point range, making 14-of-28 attempts.

The Panthers’ opponents have shot 38.5 percent from long distance this season, while the Cardinals go into Lantz Arena with the third best shooting percentage from 3-point range in the country at 46.9. Only Duquesne (52.8 percent) and Portland (50 percent) rank ahead of Ball State.

In Eastern’s five losses this season, its opponent has shot 50 percent from 3-point range three times and has lost by a combined 38 points. After losing three straight in the Emerald Coast Classic, the Panthers’ defense forced Southern University to shoot 2-for-10 from long range, as Eastern won the game and allowed a season-low 43 points.

Junior guard LeTrell “Snoop” Viser said the Panthers have to be all over the Ball State shooters Wednesday night to make it more difficult for the Cardinals to get good looks at the basket.

“We just have to get down and defend like no other,” Snoop said. “We have to run their shooters off the three and contest every shot. We have to make every shot they take uncomfortable.”

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].