E. Illinois shocks Iowa as 31.5-point underdog
Eastern Illinois pulled off the most significant college basketball distressed by point spread in the modern-day period Wednesday, knocking off Iowa 92-83 on the road as a 31.5-point underdog, according to Caesars Sportsbook.Kinyon Hodges scored 22 points and Caleb Donaldson added 16 for the Panthers, who ended up being the first underdog of 30 or more points to win outright in the previous 30 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Info research. Before Eastern Illinois’upset of the Hawkeyes, underdogs of 30 or more points were 0-558 over the past 30 seasons.The Panthers were such huge underdogs that many sportsbooks
did not offer chances on them to win the game straight up.The start of Wednesday’s game was moved up 4 1/2 hours due to the weather forecast, then Iowa broke out to an 18-4 lead and led 45-37 at the half.Date Team Spread Opp.Wed.E. Illinois 31.5 Iowa Nov. 2019 S.F. Austin 27.5 Duke Dec. 2019 Charl. So.26.0 Mizzou Nov. 2007 Gar.-Webb 26.0 UK Hodges
| had 3 straight dunks in 68 seconds | to break a 55-55 tie midway through | the 2nd half as Eastern Illinois took control. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Donaldson layup had the Panthers | up 75-65 with 5:26 to | ||
| play, and | his jumper made it | 82-68 with | 2:50 to |
| go.The Panthers were 21-of-29 after intermission(72 | %) |
, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range, while the Hawkeyes went 2-of-17 behind the arc and 11-of-36 total (31%). Only suspect foul shooting postponed the outcome. Eastern Illinois was 9-of-17 from the line in the 2nd half, however Iowa likewise struggled,
going 14-of-23. Yaakema Rose Jr. and Kyle Thomas scored 13 points apiece for Eastern Illinois(4-9 ), which lost by 30 to Illinois and 23 to Ohio State previously in the season.
Dan Luers included 10 points.It was the 4th Power 5 win for the Panthers, the others coming in 1974, 1987 and 2019. It was also their 2nd win, and initially in 35 years, over a Big Ten team.The Associated Press added to this report.