The Hawkeyes won their second straight game, downing Rutgers, 68-62, on Tuesday night inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The victory evens Iowa’s record at 4-4 through eight games in Big Ten play.
Iowa moves to 10-1 at home this season.
The Hawkeyes had three players land in double figures: Bennett Stirtz (20), Tate Sage (17), Tavion Banks (12)
Stirtz recorded his second straight and ninth 20-point game of the season. He scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half.
Stirtz also had five assists, four rebounds and two steals in the contest.
Sage scored a career-high 17 points, making 5-of-7 field goals, including a career-high four 3-pointers. He made four of Iowa’s seven 3-point field goals in the game.
Sage is the first Iowa freshman to score 15+ points and have four 3-pointers against a Big Ten opponent since Joe Wieskamp against Ohio State in 2019.
Stirtz played all 40 minutes for the sixth time this season and for the first time since Dec. 11 at Iowa State.
Sophomore Isaia Howard finished with a career-high 8 rebounds to lead the team.
Rutgers scored the first nine points of the second half to erase a seven-point halftime deficit. The Scarlet Knights scored 15 of the first 20 points over the first 7 ½ minutes, taking a 39-36 lead.
Iowa held Rutgers to 62 points – eight points below its season average.
The Hawkeyes have held every opponent below its season scoring average this season.
Iowa forced 12 turnovers in the first half and 19 for the game.
The Hawkeyes are 12-2 on the season when they have fewer turnovers than their opponent.
The Hawkeyes trailed 18-13 at the 9:19 mark of the first half before outscoring Rutgers, 18-6, to take a 31-24 lead into the break. The Scarlet Knights made just two of their final 10 shots to end the half.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will have an eight-day break before hosting USC on Jan. 28 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
