Iowa men's basketball crushed Eastern Illinois 91-47 on Nov. 6 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, sweeping the opening week of the 2026-27 season and improving to 2-0 under head coach Ben McCollum.
The Hawkeyes followed up their season-opening win over Lipscomb with their most complete performance of the young campaign, shooting 63% from the field and holding the Panthers without a single made 3-pointer. According to Yahoo Sports, Iowa held Eastern Illinois to 33% shooting overall and 0% from deep while recording 11 steals and four blocks.
What worked for Iowa against Eastern Illinois
The biggest turnaround came from beyond the arc. After making just 6-of-25 from 3-point range in the opener, Iowa connected on 14-of-30 (47%) against the Panthers, with eight different Hawkeyes hitting at least one triple.
McCollum has said publicly he believes this team will have more shooting options than last season's squad, and the Eastern Illinois game backed him up.
Trevin Jirak looks like a breakout candidate
Sophomore Trevin Jirak has shown obvious growth two games into the season. The big man nearly posted a triple-double against Eastern Illinois with eight points, seven rebounds and eight assists, while anchoring the defense and the boards.
Balance has defined the early season
Twelve Hawkeyes scored in the win, and the bench poured in 61 points. That is a notable shift from last season, when Bennett Stirtz carried the scoring load. Illinois State transfer Ty'Reek Coleman chipped in 13 points and six assists, while Peyton McCollum added a team-high 14 points and hit 4-of-7 from deep in just his second career game.
Former four-star recruit Trey Thompson, who did not play at all last season, scored the first points of his Iowa career on a second-half 3-pointer and finished with 11. Ethan Harris also scored his first career points as a Hawkeye.
Iowa broke the game open with a 15-0 first-half run, turning an eight-point lead into a 23-point cushion and taking a 41-20 advantage into halftime. The Hawkeyes avoided the first-half lull that hurt them against Lipscomb, when they surrendered a 13-0 run.
Where Iowa still needs to improve
The blowout was not flawless. Iowa committed 15 turnovers, with Tate Sage, Coleman and Jirak each responsible for three. McCollum's squad also continued to struggle at the free throw line, following a 14-of-28 performance in the opener with 11-of-17 against Eastern Illinois.
Fouls were another concern. Eastern Illinois actually attempted more free throws than Iowa (20-17), and the Hawkeyes committed 14 fouls in the second half alone. Iowa also gave up 11 offensive rebounds to a team it should have dominated on the glass.
Those issues are easy to overlook in a 44-point win, but they could decide close games against the competition coming up.
Drew McKeever remains sidelined
Saint Mary's transfer Drew McKeever sat out his second straight game. After the Lipscomb win, McCollum said the staff was being very cautious with McKeever's injury. His absence likely contributed to the defensive rebounding struggles, and his return would give the frontcourt a noticeable boost.
Virginia Tech awaits in Sioux City
The schedule toughens immediately. Iowa faces three straight power-conference opponents in Virginia Tech, Creighton and Xavier, a stretch that begins with Virginia Tech on Nov. 10 in Sioux City.
Through two games, Iowa is holding opponents to an average of 50.5 points, a number that will be tested against ACC and Big East competition. The Hawkeyes have yet to trail in the second half of either game.
The women's program is rolling, too. The Iowa women also dominated Eastern Illinois 80-39, and according to USA Today, fans and media praised the Hawkeyes' defensive effort in that win. Head coach Jan Jensen told reporters her team played more crisp than it did in the opener, though she still saw too many forced passes, per Hawk Central.
FAQ
What was the score of Iowa vs. Eastern Illinois?
Iowa defeated Eastern Illinois 91-47 on Nov. 6, 2026, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, moving the Hawkeyes to 2-0 on the season.
Who led Iowa in scoring against Eastern Illinois?
Peyton McCollum scored a team-high 14 points, hitting 4-of-7 from 3-point range in just his second career game.
When does Iowa play Virginia Tech?
Iowa faces Virginia Tech on Nov. 10 in Sioux City, the first of three straight games against power-conference opponents, followed by Creighton and Xavier.