Bennett Stirtz picked a good night to have the best game of his college career - and Iowa made sure to capitalize.
Behind a scorching 32-point performance from the sophomore guard, Iowa rolled to an 84-66 road win over Oregon on Sunday night at Matthew Knight Arena. The Hawkeyes, now 16-5 overall and 6-4 in Big Ten play, looked locked in from the opening tip, and Stirtz was the engine that powered them wire to wire.
Let’s talk about just how efficient Stirtz was: 12-of-15 from the field, 4-of-6 from deep, and seemingly in total control every time the ball touched his hands. He didn’t force shots - he found his rhythm early and rode it all night. Whether it was slipping into space for a clean look or attacking off the bounce, Oregon simply didn’t have an answer.
And the Hawkeyes followed his lead. As a team, Iowa shot a blistering 59% from the floor, carving up Oregon’s defense with a mix of perimeter shooting and easy finishes around the rim. Alvaro Folgueiras chipped in 15 points, Brendan Hausen added 11, and the offense hummed with the kind of rhythm that’s hard to slow down once it gets going.
Oregon, meanwhile, continues to search for answers. The Ducks have now dropped eight straight and sit at 8-14 overall, 1-10 in the Big Ten.
They got 18 points from Kwame Evans Jr. and 16 from Takai Simpkins, but shot just 41% from the field and a rough 6-of-25 from three-point range. When you’re trying to climb out of a losing streak, that’s not going to cut it - especially against a team firing on all cylinders.
Early on, it looked like we might have a back-and-forth battle. Oregon held a 10-9 lead after some early three-point trading, and still led 15-13 midway through the first half.
But then Stirtz got going. His three-pointer gave Iowa a 21-17 lead, and from there, the Hawkeyes took control.
They stretched the lead to 27-19, then 32-21 as Oregon’s offense stalled in the halfcourt. By halftime, Iowa was up 35-26 and clearly in the driver’s seat.
The Ducks came out with some fight after the break, briefly cutting the deficit to 41-34. But Iowa never let them get closer.
Stirtz kept attacking, and the Hawkeyes kept finding quality looks. A 16-10 run pushed the lead to 57-44 with just over 11 minutes to play, and from there, Iowa never looked back.
Even as Oregon tried to claw back - a Stirtz layup made it 63-52 with a little over seven minutes left - the Ducks couldn’t get the stops they needed. Iowa’s offense was just too clean, too efficient, and too composed to let this one slip away.
For Iowa, this was the kind of road win that speaks volumes. They didn’t just beat a struggling team - they executed with confidence, leaned on their hot hand, and closed the door when it mattered. Stirtz was the story, but the Hawkeyes as a whole looked like a group that’s starting to find its stride in the thick of Big Ten play.
Next up, Oregon faces a tough test on the road at No. 12 Purdue. As for Iowa, if they can keep this kind of offensive rhythm rolling, they’ll be a tough out for anyone the rest of the way.