The Iowa men’s basketball team  returns to action this evening when it plays on the road for the third time in four games, traveling to Champaign, Ill., to face Illinois (13-8, 2-6). Tipoff is set for 6:36 p.m. at the State Farm Center . Coach Fran McCaffrey will be wearing a pin from the organization “Autism Speaks” (Autismspeaks.org) for Autism Awareness Day.

Iowa is 4-0 in games following a loss this season. The Hawkeyes lost in overtime Tuesday to Michigan State (71-69) in Iowa City, halting Iowa’s 20-game home win streak.  Tonight’s game features two of the Big Ten’s top scorers: Illinois’ Rayvonte Rice and Iowa’s Roy Devyn Marble.

Iowa’s five losses have all come to teams ranked in the top-25 and by a combined 14 points, including two in overtime. The Hawkeyes have lost games by two points against Michigan State in overtime, three points against Iowa State, four points against Wisconsin, and five points against Villanova  in overtime.

Illinois holds an 81-68 advantage in the series that began with a 46-36 Iowa win in 1908. The Illini have won nine of the last 12 against the Hawkeyes, but Iowa has won the last two, including last season’s only meeting in Iowa City (63-55) on March 5, 2013. Iowa’s last win at Assembly Hall came by a 78-72 margin during the 1998-99 season.

You can hear the game on KJAN, beginning at 5-p.m.  Tip-off is at 6:36.

(Hawkeye Sports.com)