Iowa Routs Eastern Illinois 91-47

The Hawkeyes held the Panthers to 33 percent shooting and just two made three-pointers in Friday's blowout at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Basketball

Iowa men's basketball defeated Eastern Illinois 91-47 on Friday, November 6, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes built a 41-20 halftime lead and pulled away behind a defense that forced 13 Eastern Illinois turnovers.

Why it matters

The win gives Iowa a 2-0 start following a 76-54 opener against Lipscomb on Tuesday. Coach Ben McCollum said the defensive pressure made it difficult for Eastern Illinois to run its offense.

Eastern Illinois shot 33 percent from the field and made 2 of 11 three-pointers, while Iowa shot 46.7 percent from deep and scored 21 points off 13 Panthers turnovers. Ty'Reek Coleman scored 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting and Peyton McCollum led all scorers with 14.

The players

Ben McCollum

Ben McCollum is the head men's basketball coach at the University of Iowa, leading the Hawkeyes program in its early-season games.

Peyton McCollum

Peyton McCollum is a guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team who led all scorers in the 91-47 win over Eastern Illinois with 14 points.

Ty'Reek Coleman

Ty'Reek Coleman is a player for the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team who scored 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting against Eastern Illinois.

The details

Iowa held Eastern Illinois to 16 points in the final 18:07 of the first half and used two 6-0 runs to build its lead. Coach Ben McCollum said the Hawkeyes disrupted Eastern Illinois's ball screens, forcing floppy actions and pin downs that slowed the offense.

Tuesday: Iowa defeated Lipscomb 76-54 in its season opener.
Friday, November 6: Iowa defeated Eastern Illinois 91-47 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Season Trajectory

Iowa's back-to-back wins to open the season, a 76-54 victory over Lipscomb followed by a 91-47 rout of Eastern Illinois, establish an early defensive identity under Ben McCollum. Two wins against low-tier opponents provide limited evidence about how the Hawkeyes will compete against stronger Big Ten competition later in the year.

Fans watching Iowa's early games can track whether the Hawkeyes sustain their defensive pressure and three-point shooting as the schedule gets tougher. Box score details like turnover margin and bench scoring offer a clear way to measure that progress.

The takeaway

Early-season wins built on forcing turnovers and limiting easy looks can show a team's defensive habits before conference play begins. Watching turnover margin and opponent shooting percentage over the next several games will indicate whether Iowa's approach holds up.