MBB Notes -- vs. Bucknell

 

OPPONENT	Bucknell vs. RV/#25 Iowa
DATE	Saturday, Dec. 20
LOCATION	Des Moines, Iowa | Casey's Center
KICKOFF	5 p.m. (CT)
TV	BTN
RADIO	Hawkeye Radio Network

 

ON THE AIR
Radio: Games are broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Gary Dolphin (play-by-play) and Bobby Hansen (color) on the call.  The network includes1 more than 40 stations that blanket the state of Iowa and includes portions of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.  The Hawkeye Radio Network includes a 60-minute pregame show.
TV:  Saturday’s game will be televised on BTN with Jake Eisenberg (play-by-play) and Jess Settles (color) on the call.

OPENING TIP
• The Hawkeyes head to Des Moines for a neutral site matchup against Bucknell on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. (CT) at the Casey’s Center.
• Iowa has won seven of its last eight games in the Casey’s Center since 2013.  The Hawkeyes defeated Florida A&M, 88-52, in the most recent game on Dec. 16, 2023.
• Iowa’s 9-2 start is the best start for the program since the 2020-21 season (12-2 record).
• The Hawkeyes’ two losses have come against top 10 teams on the road -- at No. 7 Michigan State, at No. 4 Iowa State.
• Iowa ranks in the top 15 nationally in field goal percentage (ninth, .521) and 3-point field goal percentage (14th, .399).
• Junior Cam Manyawu has been in double digits in three straight games, where he is averaging 11 points on 68.3 percent shooting to go along with 5.3 rebounds.
• The Hawkeyes are allowing 61.8 points per game -- the fewest in the Big Ten and eighth-fewest nationally. Iowa has allowed 70 or more points just twice in 11 games.
• Iowa held Grand Canyon to 46 points -- the fewest allowed since 2010 -- and it was the team’s first win when scoring fewer than 60 points since 2020.
• The Hawkeyes won the Acrisure Classic with victories over Ole Miss and Grand Canyon, while senior Bennett Stirtz was named the tournament MVP after averaging 21 points, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals with seven 3-pointers.
• Stirtz has a team-high four 20-point games, including a season-high 29 points in the win over Ole Miss, making 9-of-20 field goals and six 3-pointers.  He scored a game-high 25 points in the Dec. 6 win over Maryland.
• Stirtz is averaging 17.5 points with .492/.444/.792 shooting splits, while averaging 4.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals. He ranks in the top nine in the Big Ten in points, assists and steals. 
• Amongst active players, Stirtz is the only player nationally ranked in the top 10 in points (1,810) and assists (486) and he is one of six to have 1,500 points and 350 assists. 

SCOUTING BUCKNELL
• The Bison enter Saturday’s game following an 11-day break with a 3-9 overall record.  Bucknell downed won Rider, 51-38, in its most recent game on Dec. 9 to snap a nine-game losing streak.
• Bucknell opened the season with wins over Delaware (78-70) and Mount St. Mary’s (73-62).
• The Bison have two players averaging in double figures with Amon Dorries leading the way with a 13.5 scoring average.  He has made a team-best 40 of 50 free throws.
• Waukee, Iowa, native Ruot Bijiek averages 11.6 points and a team-best 4.7 rebounds, while Achile Spadone averages 9.5 points and 4.6 boards with 22 steals.
• The Bison average 66.1 points, while shooting 40.1 percent, but just 32 percent from long range.  The team is -2.7 on the glass and has 16 more turnovers than assists.  
• Bijiek was a second-team Iowa Class 4A all-state honoree at Valley High School in West Des Moines.  

SERIES HISTORY
• Saturday’s game is the second in the all-time series between Iowa and Bucknell.  The Hawkeyes lead, 1-0.
• Iowa won the only previous meeting, winning 91-52 in Iowa City on Dec. 28, 1997.
• The Hawkeyes are 14-0 all-time against current opponents from the Patriot League.

LAST GAME: IOWA 91, WESTERN MICHIGAN 51
Iowa posted its largest margin of victory of the season, downing Western Michigan, 91-51, on Sunday in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.  The Hawkeyes shot 55.9 percent from the floor, made a season-high 14 3-pointers and had five players in double figures (and 11 players score).
• Iowa limited the Broncos to 20.7 percent shooting and 16 points in the first half -- the fewest points allowed in a half since 2015.  Western Michigan shot 29.8 percent from the field and 25 percent from long range in the game.
• Bennett Stirtz, Alvaro Folgueiras and Brendan Hausen paced the team with 13 points, while Cam Manyawu and Tate Sage added 11 points apiece.

MORE NOTABLES
• Freshman Tate Sage is averaging 10.3 points and four rebounds on 59.2 percent shooting over his last three games.  He is averaging 22.3 minutes during the stretch.
• Junior Cam Manyawu has been in double figures in three straight games (and in five contests this season).  He is averaging 11 points on 68.2 percent shooting and 5.3 rebounds during the three-game stretch.
• Senior Tavion Banks led the team in scoring for the second time this season at Iowa State, finishing with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting with a season-high two 3-point field goals.
• Sophomore Isaia Howard had a breakout game in the win over Grand Canyon, leading all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting with a season-high three 3-pointers. In two games at the Acrisure Classic, Howard averaged 11.5 points and five rebounds, while shooting 56.3 percent from the field.  
• The Hawkeyes are averaging 32.4 points in the paint this season.
• Senior Brendan Hausen scored a season-high 13 points and made a season-best four 3-pointers on Dec. 14 against Western Michigan. Hausen has made 14 field goals this season and 13 have come from long range.  
• The Hawkeyes made a season-high 14 3-point field goals with six different players making at least one in the win over Western Michigan.  Iowa is leading the Big Ten (and ranks 14th nationally) with a .399 3-point field goal percentage.
• Iowa has made 10 or more 3-pointers in four contests and eight or more seven times.
• The Hawkeyes attempted 44 free throws (made 36) in the season-opening win over Robert Morris.  Iowa, who has made 25 or more free throws in three games this season.
• Iowa has attempted more free throws than its opponent in seven games this season.