Freshman Tate Sage Steps Up as Iowa Grits Out Win Over Rutgers
IOWA CITY - Not every win is going to be a masterpiece. Sometimes, the shots don’t fall, the rhythm never quite arrives, and the execution feels a step behind.
But the good teams? They find a way to win anyway.
That’s exactly what Iowa did Tuesday night, grinding out a 68-62 victory over Rutgers in a game that was more about resilience than highlight reels. Head coach Ben McCollum didn’t sugarcoat it afterward - the effort was there, but the execution wasn’t.
“You have to win games when it’s just not clicking,” McCollum said postgame. “It wasn’t clicking for us tonight.”
Still, the Hawkeyes found enough answers - and one of the biggest came from a freshman who’s quickly proving he’s not afraid of the moment.
Tate Sage: The Emergence of a Fearless Freshman
Tate Sage isn’t just earning minutes - he’s earning trust. The 6-foot-7 guard put together a breakout performance against the Scarlet Knights, scoring a career-high 17 points, including four made threes and a pair of assists. He didn’t just show up - he delivered when Iowa needed a spark.
“He was huge,” said junior guard Isaia Howard. “He shot the ball really well.
We’ve seen that in practice a lot, and in a couple games. But for him to see more than a couple go in during a game, it was really good for his confidence.”
Confidence doesn’t seem to be a problem for Sage. Earlier this season, McCollum called him “fearless,” and it’s not hard to see why. Whether it’s stepping into a big shot or playing extended minutes in a tight Big Ten battle, Sage carries himself like he belongs - because he does.
“No moments too big for him,” McCollum said. “He just kind of comes in and lets the moment be the moment.
Who would have thought he’d be at this level in the Big Ten? I thought he would play for us in the Big Ten.
I wasn’t sure if he’d play this year, but he’s playing.”
Sage’s path to Iowa wasn’t traditional. He originally committed to Drake, following McCollum there before flipping to the Hawkeyes when his coach made the move. Now, just a few months into his college career, he’s already playing key minutes in conference play - and making them count.
“I’ve won in the past, and I believe I’m a winner,” Sage said. “So knowing I can go out there and be myself is huge.”
That mindset? It’s not bravado - it’s belief. Asked about his “fearless” label, Sage didn’t hesitate.
“Why fear another man?” he said. “What can he do that I can’t?”
Stirtz Steady, Sage Surging
While Sage’s breakout was the story of the night, Bennett Stirtz continued to be the engine that drives Iowa’s offense. The former Drake point guard poured in a team-high 20 points, including 13 in the second half, as the Hawkeyes leaned heavily on their two guards to close the game out.
McCollum didn’t overthink it. With Stirtz and Sage both finding a groove late, Iowa stuck with a simple set and ran it over and over. Rutgers didn’t have an answer.
“We just ran the same set repeatedly,” McCollum said. “It worked.”
Stirtz has been Iowa’s go-to scorer all season, averaging 18.3 points per game, and Tuesday night was another example of his ability to take over when the game demands it. Alongside Tavion Banks, he’s one of only two Hawkeyes averaging double figures this season - but performances like Sage’s offer a glimpse of what this team could become if more scoring options continue to emerge.
A Win That Says More Than the Score
This wasn’t Iowa at its best. But in some ways, that’s what made the win matter more.
It’s easy to win when everything’s clicking. It’s a lot harder when the shots are off, the execution is shaky, and the energy is uneven.
Yet the Hawkeyes still found a way.
And in the middle of it all was a freshman guard who’s not waiting his turn - he’s taking it.
Sage hasn’t come off the bench since high school - and even then, it was for a Senior Night. But he’s embraced the role of spark plug, and now, he’s forcing his way into something more permanent.
For Iowa, the ceiling rises if Sage continues on this trajectory. For now, the Hawkeyes will take the win - gritty, imperfect, hard-fought - and the knowledge that their young guard isn’t just fearless. He’s ready.