Iowa vs Rutgers: Hawkeyes Close Strong in 68–62 Home Win
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The Iowa Hawkeyes earned their second straight conference victory, defeating Rutgers 68–62 in a tightly contested Big Ten matchup in Iowa City.
Rutgers made several runs and briefly seized momentum early in the second half, but Iowa’s composure and late-game execution ultimately proved decisive.
Game Flow and Key Moments
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Final Score: Iowa 68, Rutgers 62
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Venue: Carver-Hawkeye Arena
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Halftime: Iowa 31, Rutgers 24
Rutgers opened the second half with a 9–0 run, turning a seven-point deficit into a 33–31 lead. Iowa responded quickly, and once the Hawkeyes regained the lead with 8:22 remaining, they never trailed again.
Stirtz and Sage Deliver Late
Bennett Stirtz led the way for Iowa:
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20 points, team high
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Driving layup at 8:22 gave Iowa a 46–45 lead
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Steady scoring presence throughout
Tate Sage, coming off the bench, provided crucial support:
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17 points
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Hit timely shots during Rutgers runs
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Knocked down key free throws late
Closing Sequence: Free Throws Seal It
The final minute told the story of Iowa vs Rutgers:
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22 seconds left: Tariq Francis hit two free throws to cut the deficit to 64–62
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Rutgers fouled Sage, who calmly sank two free throws
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10 seconds left: Lino Mark missed an off-balance three
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0:08 remaining: Isaia Howard iced the game with two free throws
What could have been a one-possession finish turned into a controlled Hawkeye win at the line.
Box Score Highlights
Iowa (14–5, 4–4 Big Ten)
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Shooting: 24-of-51 (47%)
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Bennett Stirtz: 20 points
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Tate Sage: 17 points
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Tavion Banks: 12 points
Rutgers (9–10, 2–6 Big Ten)
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Shooting: 19-of-44 FG, 5-of-18 from three
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Free throws: 19-of-24
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Darren Buchanan Jr.: 17 points
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Tariq Francis: 15 points off the bench
Despite being outrebounded 31–24, Iowa offset the gap with better shooting volume and clutch execution.
What This Result Means
Iowa Hawkeyes
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Improve to 14–5 overall, 4–4 in the Big Ten
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Build momentum with back-to-back conference wins
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Stirtz and Sage emerge as reliable late-game options
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
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Fall to 9–10 overall, 2–6 Big Ten
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Third loss in the last four games
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Another close contest slips away due to late scoring struggles
Final Word — Sportsphere24 Updates
Iowa vs Rutgers was a textbook Big Ten battle — physical, tense, and decided at the free-throw line.
Behind Bennett Stirtz’s 20-point night and clutch closing from Tate Sage, Iowa protected its home floor, while Rutgers was left again searching for answers in late-game situations.