NOTRE DAME, Ind. (Interstat) — Eastern Illinois will visit Notre Dame for a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game on Monday at Joyce Athletic Center. The Panthers are the visiting team and enter with an 0-2 record, while the Fightin` Irish are the home team and sit at 2-0. The matchup gives Eastern Illinois another early-season test against a higher-profile opponent, and it gives Notre Dame a chance to maintain momentum at home. Both teams are in the early portion of their nonconference schedules, and the game will test Eastern Illinois against a team with early momentum.

Eastern Illinois has opened the season with losses at Indiana and Iowa. In the most recent result, a loss at Iowa, Tanner Vogel was the most productive player for the Panthers. The forward recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds in 17 minutes. Vogel also contributed eight points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block in the opener at Indiana. Jaden Miller added four assists in the latest game, and Demar Burton scored nine points. The Panthers have faced a difficult opening schedule, with both games on the road. Eastern Illinois will need Vogel to remain active on the glass and find more scoring support around him to challenge Notre Dame on the road.

Notre Dame has started with wins over Mercyhurst and at Villanova. Brady Koehler is the player to watch for the Fightin` Irish. The forward scored 17 points and added six rebounds, one assist and one block in 21 minutes in the latest win over Mercyhurst. Koehler also posted 16 points, eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 25 minutes at Villanova. Ethan Roberts and Braeden Shrewsberry have also been productive for Notre Dame, giving the Irish several options on offense. Roberts had 18 points and four rebounds in the Mercyhurst win, and Shrewsberry added 17 points and five rebounds.

The game is scheduled for Monday in Notre Dame, Ind., at Joyce Athletic Center. Eastern Illinois will try to control tempo and limit Notre Dame’s scoring chances, while the Fightin` Irish will look to use their home court and depth to build an early advantage. The Panthers are seeking their first win of the season, and Notre Dame is trying to remain unbeaten before its schedule continues. The Irish will try to dictate pace and use their scoring depth, while Eastern Illinois will aim to keep the game close with defense and rebounding.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Notre Dame 73, Eastern Illinois 68. Interstat’s ELO system projects Notre Dame with a 95.7 percent probability to win.