Eastern Illinois takes its 0-1 record to Iowa on Friday, continuing a demanding early-season road stretch against power-conference teams. Iowa is 1-0, but EIU has beaten the Hawkeyes once before, winning 92-83 in 2022. Demar Burton led the Panthers with 10 points in their opener at Indiana.

By the Numbers
  • EIU opens with 5 of its first 7 games against ACC, Big Ten or SEC opponents.
  • Iowa leads the series 5-1; EIU won the teams’ last meeting, 92-83, on Dec. 21, 2022.
  • Burton scored 10 points at Indiana, shooting 4-for-8 from the floor.
Yes, But

Iowa enters after a season-opening win over Lipscomb, while EIU is still seeking its first win. The Panthers’ 2022 victory shows they have beaten Iowa before, but the Hawkeyes hold a 5-1 edge in the series.

State of Play
  • Friday’s game tips off at 7:30 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City and will air on Big Ten Network.
  • EIU’s road swing continues Monday at Notre Dame; its home opener is Nov. 11 against Blackburn College.
What's Next

After Iowa, EIU travels to Notre Dame on Monday for a 6 p.m. game, then returns home to face Blackburn on Nov. 11.

Bottom Line

EIU faces another steep early test on the road, with its prior upset of Iowa offering a reminder that the matchup is not out of reach.