(Iowa City, IA) — Iowa fell out of the Top 25 this week but started the trip back up the ladder with a 68-62 win over Rutgers in a Big Ten men’s basketball game on Tuesday night.
The Knights made sure the Hawkeyes know they came to Iowa City to play after Kaden Powers opened the game with a three pointer. Tavion Banks, meanwhile, scored 5 of Iowa’s first 7 points as the lead changed hands multiple times in the first half. Down 18-13, Iowa went on a 18-7 run to lead 31-24 at the half.
Powers hit another triple to start the 2nd half and the Knights went on a 9-0 run to take back the lead. Rutgers held a slight lead until Bennett Stirtz made a driving lay-up with 8:22 left to give the Hawkeyes a 46-45 lead. It would be a lead they would never give up. The Knights kept with a 1 or 2 possession game and Tariq Francis hit 2 free throws to make it 64-62 Iowa with 22 seconds left. After an Iowa timeout, Tate Sage was fouled with 18 seconds left and hit two free throws. The Knights last ditch effort failed and Iowa perservered.
Stirtz led Iowa (14-5, 4-4) with 20 points despite going 0-6 on his three point shots. Sage had a big night with 17 points off the bench including 4-6 on his threes. Banks added 12. Isiah Howard had 6 points and 8 rebounds.
Rutgers (9-10, 2-6) was led by Darren Buchanan with 17 points and Francis added 15.
