Hawkeyes Fall to Ohio State in Big Ten Tournament

CHICAGO – The University of Iowa men’s basketball team fell to Ohio State, 72-69, in the third round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday afternoon at the United Center. The Hawkeyes move to 21-12 on the season.

After trailing by as many as 16 in the second half, the Hawkeyes cut the Ohio State lead to one and missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime.

Iowa opened a 12-6 lead midway through the first half as Ohio State started 1-of-7 from the field and endured a scoring drought of more than three minutes. The Buckeyes took their first lead with five minutes remaining in the half after making seven consecutive field goals. After 20 minutes, Iowa trailed Ohio State, 34-30.

Senior Bennett Stirtz paced Iowa in the opening half with nine points, shooting 4-of-6 from the field. The Hawkeyes shot 10-of-22 (45.5 percent) from the field and 5-of-11 (45.5 percent) from 3-point range while converting 5-of-6 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line. Iowa was outscored, 22-8, in the paint in the first 20 minutes.

The Buckeyes opened the second half on a 17-5 run to build a 51-35 lead with 13:55 remaining, the largest lead of the game by either team. Iowa responded with a 10-1 run, making five straight field goals to cut the deficit to six. Ohio State pushed the lead back to 12 before Iowa trimmed the margin to one, 70-69, with just under 40 seconds remaining.

Senior Brendan Hausen’s 3-point attempt to tie the game with four seconds left missed and Iowa was forced to foul. Ohio State missed the front end of a one-and-one, and the Buckeyes intentionally fouled to send Iowa to the line with three seconds remaining. Junior Alvaro Folgueiras missed the first free throw, and sophomore Isaia Howard grabbed the offensive rebound, but his 3-point attempt at the buzzer to send the game to overtime just missed.

Stirtz led Iowa with 16 points, shooting 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) from the field while adding four assists. Stirtz was the lone Hawkeye in double figures, but five other players scored at least eight points. Folguerias led Iowa on the glass with six rebounds. The Hawkeyes shot 22-of-44 from the field and 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) from 3-point range while converting 15-of-19 (78.9 percent) from the free throw line. Iowa outrebounded the Buckeyes, 24-21, but was outscored in the paint, 36-20.

GAME NOTES

• Iowa nearly erased a 16-point second half deficit, closing to within a single point in the final minute, but the Hawkeyes Big Ten Tournament run ended with a 72-69 loss to eighth-seeded Ohio State on Thursday afternoon at the United Center. 
• The Hawkeyes trailed 66-54 with 5:10 to play before a 15-4 run to close the gap to 70-69 with 38 seconds to play. 
  • Isaia Howard missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie.
• Iowa had one player land in double figures: Bennett Stirtz (17)
  • Stirtz finished with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
  • He now has 661 points this season, moving him past Andre Woolridge (645) into seventh place on Iowa’s single season scoring list. 
• Ohio State led 34-30 at the break before opening the second half on a 17-5 run to open a 51-35 lead with 13:55 left. Buckeye guard Bruce Thornton scored the first 14 points to ignite the spurt.
• The Hawkeyes responded with a 10-1 run over a 2 ½ minute stretch to cut the deficit to 59-53 with 7:29 remaining.  
  • Iowa brought it within one point (70-69) with 38 seconds remaining.
• The Buckeyes shot 53.8 percent in the second half and 55.3 percent for the game and had a 36-20 advantage in paint points to move into the quarterfinals.
• After starting the game 1-for-6 from the field, Ohio State made seven consecutive field goals – all at the rim – to take a 21-20 lead. The Buckeyes made 11 of their final 14 shots of the half to take a 34-30 lead into the break.
  • Ohio State shot 57.1 percent, making 12-of-21 field goals.  The Buckeyes had a 22-8 advantage in paint points. 

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will learn their postseason path Sunday during Selection Sunday. Brackets for the 2026 NCAA Tournament will be released at 5 p.m. (CT) on CBS.