The Iowa Hawkeyes opened the 2026-27 men's basketball season with a 76-54 win over the Lipscomb Bisons at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tuesday night, moving to 1-0 under second-year head coach Ben McCollum.
It was not always smooth, according to Yahoo Sports, but a 22-point victory without a single starter reaching double figures is hard to argue with. Iowa shot just 24% from three-point range and played without starting center Andrew McKeever, who sat out with a back issue. The Hawkeyes hope to have him back Friday night when Eastern Illinois visits Iowa City.
Jaidyn Coon shines in collegiate debut
The story of the night was Jaidyn Coon. The first-year guard and forward from Storm Lake led Iowa with 12 points and added six rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench, and he looked like he belonged on both ends of the floor.
At 6-foot-6, Coon used his length to hound Lipscomb defensively, hit the glass hard, and ignited the crowd with a pair of impressive dunks, according to The Daily Iowan. He was a big recruiting win for McCollum, but few expected him to carry this large a role this early. Tuesday night made clear he is ready for it.
Bench provides more than half the scoring
Iowa's reserves scored 42 of the team's 76 points, more than half the total output. That depth was the difference in the second half, when the bench powered the surge that turned a tight game into a rout.
Second-year big man Trevin Jirak was excellent, finishing with six points, seven rebounds, and four assists in 21 minutes. He knocked down a three, worked aggressively in the post, and showed a strong passing touch.
Transfer guard Ty'Reek Coleman, the former Illinois State Redbird, added 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists in 22 minutes. He was lightning fast in transition and looked like one of the best athletes on the roster. Joey Matteoni chipped in six points, four rebounds, and two steals.
With Bennett Stirtz gone, scoring will be a whole-team effort this season, and the reserves made a strong first impression that they can carry their share of the load.
Growing pains are coming, and that's OK
The win was not without warts. Iowa actually trailed late in the first half, good three-point looks refused to fall, and the offense spent long stretches searching for a rhythm. The starters were fine but clearly need more reps together to iron out the kinks.
That is a fair trade for a November opener, especially one played without McKeever anchoring the middle. There will be frustrating stretches this nonconference season when the offense grinds to a halt while McCollum figures out who to play through.
The defense, though, should keep the Hawkeyes in games while the offense finds itself. Hawk Central's recap noted the same pattern: shaky early, dominant late, with the bench leading the way for most of the second-half surge.
What's next for the Hawkeyes
Iowa returns to action Friday night against Eastern Illinois at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes will want McKeever back in the lineup and the perimeter shots to start falling before the schedule stiffens.
For now, McCollum has a 1-0 record, a budding star in Coon, and the deepest bench in recent memory in Iowa City. The rest of the state should enjoy watching this group grow.
FAQ
What was the final score of Iowa vs. Lipscomb?
Iowa defeated Lipscomb 76-54 on Tuesday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena to open the 2026-27 season.
Who led Iowa in scoring against Lipscomb?
First-year Storm Lake native Jaidyn Coon led the Hawkeyes with 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Why didn't Andrew McKeever play?
The starting center missed the season opener with a back issue and is expected to return for Friday's game against Eastern Illinois.