Hawkeyes Defeat Bucknell, 94-39, at the Casey’s Center

DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team defeated Bucknell, 94-39, on Saturday night at the Casey's Center. The Hawkeyes improve to 10-2 on the season, the program’s best start since the 2020-21 season.

After trailing, 10-2, in the first three minutes, Iowa used a 17-0 run over a five-minute stretch to build a 19-10 lead. Over that span the Hawkeyes forced Bucknell to go on a four-minute scoring drought while forcing five turnovers.

Iowa would continue extending its lead, marking a 24-3 run, as they led the Bison, 26-13, with under nine minutes in the half. The Hawkeyes ended the half on a 7-0 spurt as they led Bucknell, 43-21, at the break. The Hawkeyes forced nine turnovers and created 22 points off turnovers in the first half.

Iowa shot 16-of-28 (57.1) from the field and 4-of-9 (44.4) from beyond the arc. The Hawkeyes shot 7-of-9 (77.8) from the charity stripe while outrebounding the Bison, 17-6, in the first 20 minutes.

Junior Alvaro Folgueiras led Iowa with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes. Senior Tavion Banks added 10 points to go along with five rebounds.

The Hawkeyes opened the second half scoring 12 of the first 14 points, leading Bucknell 55-23. Iowa made eight straight field goals as part of a 10-0 run as it took a 75-32 lead with under eight minutes in the game.

The Hawkeyes would outscore the Bison, 19-7, in the final seven minutes as they defeated Bucknell, 94-39, marking the program's largest margin of victory since 2013. Iowa shot 22-of-35 (62.9) from the field and 4-of-12 (33.3) from beyond the arc in the second half. They added 19 rebounds in the final 20 minutes while only allowing 10 second half rebounds for Bucknell.

Folgueiras led Iowa with 17 points, a season high, on 7-of-10 shooting. Banks added 16 points, while making 7-of-8 free throws. Banks also pulled in a game-high nine rebounds. Junior Kael Combs rounded out Hawkeyes in double digits with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting.

Sophomore Isaia Howard had a career high seven steals while senior Bennett Stirtz dished out a game high six assists. The Hawkeyes forced 25 Bison turnovers as Iowa finished with 40 points off turnovers for the game.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH BEN MCCOLLUM
“We were worried about Bucknell. They are extremely well coached. I know it didn’t show as much tonight, but I think he’s one of the better coaches there is, from a defensive and offensive perspective, from an execution standpoint. They are really good. I thought, early, they hit those couple shots and then our defense was able to get going, get some deflections, got some easy buckets, and then they weren’t in transition as much so then we were able to control the game. We couldn’t get a grip early, but they are a good team. They are going to win a lot of games in their league, the Patriot League."

GAME NOTES

• The Hawkeyes recorded their 10th win of the season, downing Bucknell, 94-39, on Saturday afternoon at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines.  
• Iowa has won eight of its last nine games at the Casey’s Center dating back to 2013.
• The Hawkeyes improve to 10-2 overall, the program’s best start since the 2020-21 season (12-2 record). 
• The 55-point victory is the 17th largest margin of victory in program history.
  • It is Iowa’s 8th win by 19+ points this season.
• Iowa’s defense limited the Bison to 39 points – the fewest since Nov. 8, 2013 vs. UNC Wilmington (39).
  • Bucknell scored 10 points in the game’s first three minutes and 29 points the remainder of the game.
  • The Bison scored just 18 points in the second half. 
  • Iowa has held two opponents under 16 points in a half in the last two games.
• Iowa had three players land in double figures: Alvaro Folgueiras 17, Tavion Banks 16, Kael Combs 13
• Folgueiras’ 17 points were a season high.  He scored 13 points in the game’s first 8 1/2 minutes (15 in the first half), making his first five field goals, including three 3-pointers.
• Banks had 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting (7-of-8 FT) and had a game-high nine rebounds.
• Sophomore Isaia Howard had a career-high seven steals – the most by a Hawkeye since 2010 (Eric May vs. SIUE) and tied for the fourth-most in a game in program history.
• Senior Bennett Stirtz had a game-high six assists.
• The Hawkeyes had a season high 19 steals, including 11 in the first half.
  • The 19 steals are the most by the program since 2010 (19 vs. SIUE) and tied for the fourth most in a game in program history.
• Iowa shot 60.3 percent from the field (62.9 percent in the second half) and made eight 3s.
  • The team has been 50 percent or better in nine games. 
• After falling behind 10-2 to start the game, the Hawkeyes used a 17-0 and 20-2 run over a 5-minute stretch to build a 22-12 lead. Iowa forced five turnovers and held the Bison scoreless during the spurt.
• Overall, Iowa’s run extended to 26-3 over a 7:45 stretch, making seven straight field goals at one point, to push the Hawkeyes advantage to 28-13.

UP NEXT
Iowa returns to action Dec. 29, hosting UMass Lowell at 4 p.m. (CT) in its nonconference finale on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.  Tickets are available at the Iowa Athletics Ticket Office.