Iowa Grinds Out Sixth Straight Win Behind Bennett Stirtz’s Career Night
IOWA CITY - It wasn’t always pretty, but it was effective. Iowa men’s basketball extended its win streak to six games with a 76-70 victory over Northwestern on Feb. 8, improving to 18-5 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten play. And while the Hawkeyes didn’t deliver a wire-to-wire clinic, they did enough in key stretches-led by a career night from Bennett Stirtz-to hold off a feisty Wildcats squad.
Let’s break down what stood out from the win, both the encouraging signs and the areas that still need tightening as Iowa continues its push through Big Ten play.
What Went Right
Bennett Stirtz, Take a Bow
If you thought Stirtz’s 32-point explosion against Oregon was impressive, he just raised the bar again. The sophomore was locked in from the opening tip, pouring in a career-high 36 points on an efficient 12-of-20 shooting.
He knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and was automatic at the line, going 8-for-8. This wasn’t just volume scoring-it was poised, controlled, and timely.
Stirtz carried the offense when it needed a lift and showed once again that he's evolving into one of the most dangerous scorers in the conference.
Turning a Scorer into a Volume Shooter
Coming into the game, Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli was one of the most efficient scorers in the country, averaging nearly 23 points per game. Iowa didn’t shut him down, but they made him work for every bucket.
Martinelli finished with 21 points, but it came on just 6-of-19 shooting. That’s a win defensively, and Cooper Koch deserves a lot of credit for making life uncomfortable.
The Hawkeyes didn’t let Martinelli find his rhythm, and that disruption played a key role in keeping Northwestern from ever seizing control.
Momentum Shift Before the Break
For much of the first half, Iowa looked a step slow. But with just a few minutes to go before halftime, the Hawkeyes flipped a switch.
A 10-0 run turned a three-point deficit into a seven-point lead, and they went into the locker room up four. It was a momentum swing that changed the tone of the game-and showed this team’s ability to respond when the energy isn’t quite there early.
Dominating the Paint
Iowa made a clear decision to attack the interior, and it paid off. The Hawkeyes outrebounded Northwestern 34-22 and outscored them 36-20 in the paint.
Northwestern doesn’t have the size to bang with Iowa down low, and the Hawkeyes exploited that mismatch. It wasn’t just about size-it was about effort and positioning, and Iowa won that battle convincingly.
Crashing the Offensive Glass
Second-chance opportunities were a difference-maker. Iowa pulled down 13 offensive rebounds and turned those into 12 points. It’s the kind of gritty, hustle-based production that can swing close games-and it did here.
Living at the Line
When the offense wasn’t humming, Iowa made up for it at the free-throw line. The Hawkeyes went 23-of-29 from the stripe, good for 79%. That’s the kind of efficiency you need in a tight Big Ten game, and it helped Iowa maintain control even when shots weren’t falling from the field.
Tavion Banks’ All-Around Contribution
Stirtz wasn’t alone out there. Tavion Banks quietly put together an impactful game, finishing with 13 points and a team-high seven boards.
He struggled from the field (3-of-9) and didn’t hit from deep (0-of-2), but he was perfect at the line (7-for-7) and gave Iowa a physical presence inside. Banks continues to be a steadying force, especially when the game gets a little chaotic.
What Needs Work
A Sleepy Start
For a good chunk of the first half, Iowa looked flat. The offense stalled, the energy was low, and the Hawkeyes missed eight straight shots during one particularly rough stretch.
The looks were there-this wasn’t a case of bad shot selection-but the execution was off. Credit to Northwestern for slowing the tempo and making Iowa uncomfortable early.
But the Hawkeyes can’t afford to sleepwalk through stretches like that, especially against more dangerous opponents.
Defensive Inconsistency
Yes, they made Martinelli inefficient, but overall, this wasn’t a banner day for Iowa’s defense. Northwestern shot 47% from the field and a blistering 57% from deep.
Jake West in particular had a field day, scoring 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting. The Hawkeyes allowed too many clean looks, especially from beyond the arc, and that nearly cost them down the stretch.
Cold from Deep
The 3-point line wasn’t kind to Iowa-on either end. Offensively, they started 0-of-5 from deep in the first half and finished just 5-of-16 overall (31%).
The second half was better, but it wasn’t enough to truly stretch the defense. Meanwhile, Northwestern hit 8-of-14 from three, and several of those were wide-open looks.
That’s a math problem Iowa can’t afford to lose too often.
Finishing the Job
This game had shades of Iowa’s earlier battle with USC-strong lead, shaky finish. The Hawkeyes led by as many as 14 in the second half but let Northwestern claw back into it.
They never lost the lead, but the final margin was tighter than it needed to be. Iowa had chances to slam the door and couldn’t quite do it.
That’s an area they’ll need to clean up as the stakes get higher.
Bottom Line
This wasn’t Iowa’s cleanest win of the season, but it was a win that showed resilience, star power, and enough execution in key moments to get the job done. Bennett Stirtz continues to elevate his game, and the Hawkeyes are finding different ways to win-even when the offense isn’t clicking on all cylinders.
In the Big Ten, where every game feels like a grind, stacking wins like this matters. There’s still plenty to sharpen, but a six-game win streak is nothing to shrug at. Iowa’s rolling, and if they can tighten up the defense and find more consistency from deep, this team is going to be a problem come March.