Three Former EIU Basketball Players Continue Careers

CHARLESTON -- Three former Eastern Illinois men’s basketball players will be continuing their careers at the professional level next season as Montell Goodwin, Muusa Dama and Ray Crossland have all signed to play professionally overseas.

Goodwin signed to play next season with MBK Handlova in the Slovakian Basketball League.  Goodwin was a two-year starter for EIU earning second team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors as a senior.  He finished his career averaging 14.7 points per game scoring 880 points, the most ever by an EIU player in a two-year Panther career.  He knocked down 141 career 3-pointers to rank 10th on the EIU career list.  He added 194 career assists.

Dama signed to play next season with Sorgues BC in the French Basketball League.  Dama was a two-year starter for EIU finishing his career as one of the top shot blockers in school history.  As a junior Dama led the Ohio Valley Conference in both rebounding and blocked shots.  His 61 blocks as a junior set the EIU single season record.  He would finish his Panther career averaging 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Crossland signed to play next season in the nine team Qatar Professional Basketball League.  Crossland was a versatile player for the Panthers during his two year career finishing his playing days averaging 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.   He finished his two-year career with 75 steals which ranks as the fourth most in school history for a two-year Panther career.

EIU head coach Jay Spoonhour has now had nine former EIU players sign professional contracts.