- Matchup: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Iowa Hawkeyes
- Date: Sunday, January 11, 2026
- Venue: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The stage is set at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as the Iowa Hawkeyes (12-3) prepare to face off against the Illinois Fighting Illini (11-3) this Sunday.
In their most recent game, the Illinois Fighting Illini secured an impressive victory against Rutgers, finishing 81-55. The team achieved a field goal percentage of 44.1% (26 out of 59) while hitting 11 of 31 attempts from beyond the arc. At the charity stripe, the Fighting Illini excelled, converting 18 of their 21 free throw attempts for an impressive 85.7% success rate. On the boards, they collected 41 rebounds, including 9 offensive, along with 13 assists, forcing 7 turnovers and making 2 steals. On the defensive end, Illinois limited Rutgers to 36.5% shooting (23 out of 63) while Rutgers managed 8 assists and 5 steals during the game. Rutgers garnered 30 rebounds, with 9 on offense, but did not register any blocks. The Scarlet Knights struggled at the free throw line, making just 3 of 8 attempts (37.5%) and shooting 27.3% (6 of 22) from three-point range. Despite committing 20 personal fouls, the Fighting Illini only had 8.
Key player Keaton Wagler made significant contributions during the game, shooting 41.7% from the field, with 3 assists in 32 minutes. He finished with 17 points, hitting 5 of 12 shots.
The Fighting Illini enter this matchup boasting an 11-3 record. They average 10.0 turnovers and commit 13.9 personal fouls per game. As a collective, Illinois grabs 42.4 rebounds per game and has compiled 209 assists throughout the season, ranking them 240th in Division I for assists per game. They are hitting 34.7% from three-point range (143 of 412) and 79.3% from the free throw line. Averaging 87.1 points per game this season places them 29th in the nation, while their field goal shooting stands at 47.8%.
When defending, the Fighting Illini force 8.6 turnovers per game and are whistled for 21.1 personal fouls on average. They limit opponents to a 31.1% three-point shooting percentage, ranking 66th nationally in points allowed per game (68.2). Their defense has allowed a field goal percentage of 39.6% (358 of 903) and they surrender an average of 31.0 rebounds every game, placing them 47th in the country for assists allowed with 170 on the season.
In their last outing, the Iowa Hawkeyes lost a closely contested game against Minnesota, finishing 70-67. The team accumulated 34 total rebounds (24 defensive and 10 offensive) but committed 13 turnovers while securing 5 steals. Minnesota committed 17 fouls, allowing the Hawkeyes to take 13 free throw attempts, of which they converted 10 for a 76.9% success rate. Iowa struggled from deep, hitting just 7 of 26 attempts (26.9%) and finished with a 39.7% shooting percentage from the field (25 of 63). The Hawkeyes allowed Minnesota to shoot 46.8% (22 of 47) overall, as well as 25.0% from three-point range (5 of 20). They managed to sink 21 of 28 free throw attempts (75.0%) while allowing Minnesota to secure 25 total rebounds (3 offensive).
Bennett Stirtz was a bright spot for the Hawkeyes, tallying 21 points in 29 minutes, adding 2 assists. He finished the game with a field goal percentage of 35.3%, hitting 6 of 17 attempts and contributing 1 rebound.
So far this season, Iowa holds a 12-3 record. They are committing an average of 18.5 fouls per game and converting 75.7% from the free throw line. The team dishes out 16.7 assists per game (67th nationally) and averages 10.4 turnovers per contest. This season, Iowa has scored a total of 1,197 points (79.8 per game) and averages 31.7 rebounds per game. Offensively, the Hawkeyes are shooting an impressive 51.9% from the field, placing them 13th in the country.
Defensively, Iowa is ranked 4th in the nation for points per game allowed (60.8). They force 15.1 turnovers per game while allowing opponents to shoot 42.6% from the field (138th in college). Teams are hitting 29.9% from three-point range against Iowa (81 of 271), with opponents also achieving 68.4% from the free throw line. They allow an average of 10.1 assists and 27.7 total rebounds per game, ranking 12th and first in the nation, respectively.
Who will come out on top in tonight’s NCAA game against the spread?
Prediction: Choose Illinois
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