Iowa Hawkeyes Secure Victory Over Ohio State Buckeyes
In a decisive matchup on Wednesday night, the Iowa Hawkeyes secured a 74-57 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, showcasing a strong performance from several key players.
Key Player Performances
Bennett Stirtz was instrumental for Iowa, contributing an impressive 22 points on just 11 shots. Alvaro Folgueiras also shone brightly, scoring a season-high 20 points while shooting 80% from the field and dishing out five assists. Complementing their efforts, Cam Manyawu tallied 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Tavion Banks contributed another 10 points to the scoreboard.
Shooting Efficiency and Game Flow
Iowa’s shooting efficiency was remarkable, hitting 57% of their shots overall (27 for 47), including 88% from the charity stripe (15 of 17). However, the Hawkeyes struggled beyond the arc, landing only 28% of their three-point attempts (5 for 18).
The game began with Ohio State establishing an early lead thanks to Amare Bynum‘s back-to-back three-pointers, giving them a quick 14-2 advantage. This lead, however, was short-lived as Folgueiras responded with a three-point play, sparking a remarkable 28-3 run for Iowa, which included eight points from Stirtz alone.
The Buckeyes faced a tough stretch, missing nine consecutive field goals and committing five turnovers during an eight-minute scoring dry spell. Devin Royal was the scoring leader for Ohio State, finishing the night with 16 points, while teammates John Mobley Jr. added 15 points and Bruce Thornton contributed 10 points.
Game Control and Future Matchups
Despite a brief resurgence from Ohio State at the start of the second half, where they managed to cut the deficit to 10 points, Iowa maintained control of the game. The Hawkeyes were particularly dominant in the paint, outscoring Ohio State 44-18 and capitalizing on turnovers with an 11-point advantage in points off turnovers.
Looking ahead, Iowa will face Penn State on Saturday, while Ohio State prepares to host the 8th-ranked Purdue on Sunday. This matchup highlighted Iowa’s strengths as they continue their push in the Big Ten Conference.
