The Iowa Hawkeyes are starting to find their rhythm in Big Ten play, and their latest win - a gritty 68-62 battle over Rutgers - is a prime example of a team learning how to close out tough games. Now sitting at 14-5 overall and an even 4-4 in conference play, Iowa is beginning to show signs of a squad that’s growing up fast. And no one embodied that growth more than freshman guard Tate Sage.
With the game tightening late - Rutgers cut the lead to just two points in the final stretch - Iowa kept its composure and executed down the stretch. In front of a charged-up Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd, the Hawkeyes didn’t flinch.
A big reason? The poise and production of a freshman who looked anything but inexperienced.
Tate Sage delivered a breakout performance, logging 30 minutes off the bench and dropping a season-high 17 points. He was efficient, confident, and unshakably calm - the kind of presence that doesn’t usually come from a first-year player in a pressure-packed Big Ten matchup.
After the game, Sage spoke with the kind of self-assurance that mirrors his on-court demeanor.
“Why fear another man? What can he do that I can't?”
Sage said. “Confidence comes from putting in the work.
I've won in the past. I believe I'm a winner.
Going out there and knowing I can compete and win is something I carry with me.”
That mindset isn’t just talk - it’s backed by production. Sage has now played in all 19 of Iowa’s games this season, averaging nearly 19 minutes per contest.
He’s giving the Hawkeyes 7.1 points and 2.3 rebounds a night, but what really jumps off the page are his shooting numbers. He’s hitting 52.4% from the field and a scorching 42.5% from beyond the arc - elite efficiency, especially for a freshman finding his way in one of the nation’s most physical conferences.
Against Rutgers, Sage knocked down four of his six three-point attempts, stretching the defense and providing a spark Iowa needed. It was his fifth double-digit scoring game this season, but this one felt different - not just because of the stat line, but because of the moment. The game was tight, the stakes were high, and Sage delivered.
For a team that’s still trying to climb the Big Ten standings, performances like this matter. Iowa didn’t just get a win - they got a glimpse of what their future could look like. And if Tate Sage continues to play with this kind of confidence and efficiency, that future might arrive sooner than expected.