Iowa City — For a large portion of Saturday night inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, it seemed as though No. 25 Iowa men’s basketball was putting on one of its most comprehensive performances of the season. The team’s victory over UCLA boosts confidence and serves as a timely Big Ten reminder.
From side to side, the ball zipped. The shots fell in time. The Hawkeyes appeared to be a team poised to make waves in the Big Ten, and the crowd fed off the enthusiasm. However, as Iowa defeated UCLA 74–61, a subliminal reminder appeared that might prove to be just as significant as the victory itself.
Big Ten games don’t stay comfortable for long.
Iowa took control of the game early on, leading by double digits at the half thanks to a sharp offense and a thrilling first half that had supporters on their feet. However, UCLA retaliated early in the second half. The Bruins quickly reduced the margin with five consecutive baskets. The foul trouble grew. The lead narrowed to four. Momentum faltered. Iowa won by 13 points and had restored order by the end of the game. The lesson persisted, though.
Guard Bennett Stirtz remarked, “Yeah, if we’re not ready to go, we could lose some games like that.” “We must play for the entire forty minutes.”
That mindset may matter even more than the ranking next to Iowa’s name.
When UCLA went on a run, the Hawkeyes did not panic, but the offensive flow slowed. The first to acknowledge that he could have done more to stop the momentum swing was Stirtz. He admitted that, both as a facilitator and a scorer, “I didn’t feel like I was aggressive enough.” Stirtz nevertheless gave an exceptional performance. With just two missed shots throughout the evening, he finished with a game-high 27 points.
The ball found him when Iowa needed control in the final moments. Donovan Dent, on the other hand, was crucial to UCLA. Dent was unrelenting, finding holes in Iowa’s defense and scoring 25 points. His efficiency he only missed seven shots from the field and hardly ever needed to go to the free-throw line to increase his total was what elevated his performance that evening.
Dent’s surge fueled UCLA’s attempt at a comeback and made Iowa react under duress, a scenario that is increasingly frequent as conference play heats up. Iowa head coach Ben McCollum remarked, “You kind of knew they’d make a run, so it’s tricky.” “You don’t know if you let off the gas or if it was just a run that they should have made earlier.”
McCollum sees the game as a teaching opportunity rather than a warning sign because of this uncertainty. The offense followed Iowa’s defensive adjustment. Transition opportunities resulted from stops. The speed came back. The Hawkeyes took back control as shots that had been falling in the first half started to fall again.
Stirtz and forward Tavion Banks led a late 7-0 run that sealed the deal. It was the kind of quick burst that Iowa has demonstrated its ability to produce a blink-and-you-missed-it sequence that significantly alters games. Iowa’s second half was by no means subpar. The Hawkeyes did not falter, collapse, or lose their composure. Rather, they responded, made adjustments, and came out on top. Even well-played games can change in an instant, though, as the brief lapse reminded us.
That awareness comes at an ideal time.
Iowa will now travel to Minnesota on Tuesday before returning home to play No. 20 Illinois on Sunday. There won’t be much room for error in those games, particularly when playing away from home. McCollum is aware that the upcoming filming sessions will be equally significant as the actual victory.
After all, he thinks that growth really occurs during practice. Iowa has already demonstrated the capacity to pick things up quickly and carry over lessons from one game to the next. The Hawkeyes have responded well to coaching changes throughout the season, whether it’s tightening defensive rotations, maintaining offensive aggression, or managing momentum swings.
The setting on Saturday might have added even more significance to that educational experience. Carver-Hawkeye Arena was packed, boisterous, and crowded. The players sensed it. Coaches saw it. Not only did the audience respond, but they also encouraged the team, particularly when UCLA threatened to gain the upper hand.
McCollum stated, “That’s why it’s important to have a crowd in these kinds of games.” You receive ten points for it. Just the vibe, the enthusiasm, the people standing and applauding. Nights like Saturday provide a glimpse of what’s possible for a program looking to establish a true home-court advantage throughout Big Ten play.
The Hawkeyes were pleased with the outcome but also conscious of areas that still needed improvement as they left the floor with a sense of confidence and groundedness. They strengthened their belief in their identity and their home environment, gained insightful perspective, and earned a quality victory. That combination has the same potential as any stat line in the Big Ten. And if later on, another lesson learned adds a few more points? Iowa won’t voice any complaints.
