Iowa Men’s Basketball Hosts Western Illinois in Season’s Home Opener

Iowa City, Iowa — The University of Iowa men’s basketball team will host Western Illinois on Friday, November 7 at 6 p.m. (CT) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This marks the Hawkeyes’ second game of the 2025-26 season following a decisive victory in their opener.

The game will be available for streaming on B1G+ and will feature play-by-play commentary from Colin Carrithers and color analysis by Jess Settles.

Iowa opened its season with a strong performance, defeating Robert Morris 101-69 on Tuesday. Senior Bennett Stirtz led the team with 19 points, contributing significantly with six assists and four steals. This impressive debut tied for the most points scored by a Hawkeye in their first game in the last three decades.

Head coach Ben McCollum, in his first season with Iowa, is looking to build on this momentum. Under his leadership, six players scored in double figures against Robert Morris, showcasing Iowa’s depth and skill. The Hawkeyes shot an impressive 61.7 percent from the field in the opener.

Western Illinois enters the game after losing its season opener to Radford, 80-75. The Leathernecks are looking to bounce back, with senior guard Lucas Lorenzen as the standout, scoring 25 points in the loss. However, they struggled with their three-point shooting, making only six out of 18 attempts.

The matchup features a long-standing rivalry, with Iowa holding a perfect 11-0 record against Western Illinois. The last meeting was in 2021, when Iowa secured a 92-71 victory. The Hawkeyes look to continue this undefeated streak at home.

The Hawkeyes’ roster includes a mix of experience and new talent, with 12 newcomers this season. This is a significant shift as McCollum welcomes six players who joined him from Drake, where they had notable success last season. Iowa’s newcomers are expected to contribute heavily this season.

The atmosphere at Carver-Hawkeye Arena is expected to be electric as fans gather to support their team on Friday night. Tickets are still available, and the game promises to be an exciting showcase of college basketball.

With both teams eager for a win, the matchup between Iowa and Western Illinois is set to be an intriguing start to the weekend.