- Matchup: Eastern Illinois Panthers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Date: Monday, November 9, 2026
- Venue: Purcell Pavilion, South Bend, IN
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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This Monday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0) face off against the Eastern Illinois Panthers (0-2) at Purcell Pavilion.
In their last outing, the Eastern Illinois Panthers faced Iowa and suffered a significant defeat, ending the game at 91-47. The Panthers committed 16 fouls, while Iowa had 17. From beyond the arc, Eastern Illinois managed to connect on 14 of 30 attempts. Iowa, conversely, shot 64.7% from the free-throw line, making 11 of 17 attempts. The Hawkeyes secured 38 rebounds (9 offensive, 29 defensive) but failed to register a block in the game. Iowa recorded 25 assists and made 11 steals. On defense, Eastern Illinois allowed their opponents to shoot an impressive 63.5%, as Iowa converted 33 of 52 shots. The Panthers, meanwhile, dished out only 10 assists but forced 15 turnovers and made 8 steals, grabbing a total of 20 boards, including 10 offensive rebounds. At the free-throw line, they managed to convert 13 out of 20 attempts for a 65.0% success rate, wrapping up with a field-goal percentage of 32.7% (17 of 52) and zero successful three-point attempts out of seven tries.
Tanner Vogel was a notable performer in the game, shooting 50.0% from the field. He played for 17 minutes, recorded 11 rebounds, and netted 11 points on 4 out of 8 shooting.
The Eastern Illinois Panthers enter this contest with an overall record of 0-2 on the season. They average just 52.0 points per game (358th in D-1) and have a shooting percentage of 41.2% from the field. From three-point range, they are hitting only 14.3% (3 of 21) and 63.0% from the free-throw line. Collectively, the Panthers average 25.0 rebounds per game, with a total of 23 assists this season, placing them 208th in D-1 for assists. They average 17.5 turnovers and commit 19.0 fouls each game.
Defensively, the Panthers are forcing 13.0 turnovers and allowing 14.0 fouls. They rank 344th in assisting opponents, having given up 38 assists this season. Their opponents are shooting at a staggering 56.4% (62 of 110) against them, and they concede an average of 36.5 rebounds per game while allowing 42.6% shooting from three-point range, ranking 330th in points allowed per game (91.0).
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish recently emerged victorious, defeating Mercyhurst with a score of 83-56. In that matchup, they secured a total of 33 rebounds—26 defensive and 7 offensive. The Fighting Irish turned the ball over 12 times but managed to net 5 steals. With 16 fouls committed by Mercyhurst, Notre Dame capitalized, earning 14 free-throw attempts and converting 12 for an impressive 85.7%. From three-point land, Notre Dame went 15 of 32 (46.9%) and shot 28 for 52 overall, resulting in a field-goal percentage of 53.8%. On defense, the Fighting Irish limited Mercyhurst to a 37.3% shooting clip, allowing them to score just 19 of 51 attempts. Notre Dame also limited Mercyhurst to 20 rebounds, with only 5 coming from the offensive side.
Brady Koehler was instrumental in the victory, hitting 6 of 7 shots (85.7%) while grabbing 6 rebounds and contributing 17 points in 22 minutes of play, along with 1 assist.
Currently, Notre Dame holds a record of 2-0 for the season. The Fighting Irish average 15.5 fouls per game and boast a strong 79.5% free-throw percentage. They dished out an average of 14.5 assists per game, ranking 209th in the nation, and are turning the ball over 12.0 times per contest. They have accumulated 157 total points so far and average 36.0 rebounds per game. On the offensive end, Notre Dame has a shooting percentage of 43.6%, placing them 225th in the country.
In terms of defense, Notre Dame permits 32.7% shooting on three-pointers (18 of 55), while opponents convert 75.0% of their free throws. They give up an average of 12.0 assists and 29.5 rebounds per game, ranking 176th and 72nd, respectively. Defensively, Notre Dame ranks 122nd in D-1, allowing 64.0 points per game. They manage to force 15.5 turnovers and opponents are shooting at a 41.7% rate against them (192nd in D-1).
Who will cover the spread in tonight’s NCAA matchup?
Prediction: Back Eastern Illinois
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