The University of Iowa men’s basketball team will play Washington State in the Quad Cities Hoops Showdown on Nov. 15 at Vibrant Arena in Moline, Illinois. It will be the Hawkeyes’ first game in the Quad Cities in 26 years.
Tickets will go on sale in September. Game time and television information will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans interested in presale access for tickets and other event information can visit www.vibrantarena.com. Intersport, a marketing and events agency based in Chicago, will manage the event.
The two programs have met just one time previously on Dec. 30, 1963, a game Iowa won, 74-66.
Last year, Washington State recorded its best season in more than 15 years. The program posted a 25-10 record, tied a school-record with 14 conference wins and earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars are under the direction of first-year coach David Riley. He spent the last 13 seasons at Eastern Washington, the last three as head coach. Mr. Riley led the team to two Big Sky Conference titles and was the league’s Coach of the Year the last two seasons.
’23 MHS champs back
Iowa returns top performers from last year’s team that saw them finish with 19 wins and earn a second-round appearance in the NIT. Big Ten Freshman of the Year Owen Freeman and teammate Brock Harding attended Moline High School. While there they led the program to a state championship in 2023.
Additionally, third-team All-Conference performer Payton Sandfort returns for his senior season under head coach Fran McCaffery, who in 14 years owns the program’s all-time wins record (280) and will become Iowa’s longest tenured head coach in 2024-25.
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“We are looking forward to playing in the Quad Cities against a strong Washington State team.” Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery said. “ We’re excited to be able to bring our program back to the venue for the first time in 26 years. I am thrilled for Brock and Owen to be able to play a college basketball game in their hometown.”
Visit Quad Cities President and CEO Dave Herrell said, “We are thrilled to host the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the Washington State Cougars in the Quad Cities. This is an incredible opportunity to have Men’s Division I Basketball in the QC and we are grateful for these two incredible programs, Intersport, and our partners at Vibrant Arena at The MARK for making it happen.”
He added “Diversifying our event portfolio and sports landscape continues to be a goal of Sports QC and this is another example of how we can showcase our region as a premier destination for sports.”
