The University of Iowa men’s basketball team defeated Bucknell, 94-39, on Saturday night at the Caseys Center. The Hawkeyes improve to 10-2 on the season, the program’s best start since the 2020-21 season. After trailing, 10-2, in the opening three minutes, Iowa would use a 17-0 run over five minutes as they took a 19-10 lead. Over that span the Hawkeyes forced Bucknell to go on a four-minute scoring drought while they forced five turnovers.
Iowa would continue extending their lead, marking a 24-3 run, as they led the Bison, 26-13, with under nine minutes in the half. The Hawkeyes would end the half on a 7-0 spurt as they led Bucknell, 43-21, at the break. The Hawkeyes forced nine turnovers and were able to create 22 points off turnovers in the first half.
Junior Alvaro Folgueiras led Iowa with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting including 3-of-4 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes. Senior Tavion Banks added 10 points to go along with five rebounds. The Hawkeyes would open the half scoring 12 of the first 14 points, leading Bucknell 55-23. Iowa would then make eight straight field goals as part of a 10-0 run as they took a, 75-32, lead with under eight minutes in the game.
The Hawkeyes would outscore the Bison, 19-7, in the final seven minutes as they defeated Bucknell, 94-39, marking the programs largest margin of victory since 2013. Iowa shot 22-of-35 (62.9) from the field and 4-of-12 (33.3) from beyond the arc in the second half. They added 19 rebounds in the final 20 minutes while only allowing 10 second half rebounds for Bucknell.
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum said “We were really worried about Bucknell. They are extremely well coached. I know it didn’t show as much tonight but I think he’s one of the better coaches there is, from a defensive and offensive perspective, from an execution standpoint. They are really good. I thought, early, they hit those couple shots and then our defense was able to get going, get some deflections, got some easy buckets, and then they weren’t in transition as much so then we were able to kind of control the game. We couldn’t get a grip early, but they are a good team. They are going to win a lot of games in their league, the Patriot League.”
Folgueiras led Iowa with 17 points, a season high, on 7-of-10 shooting. Banks added 16 points while shooting 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Banks pulled in a game high nine rebounds. Junior Kael Combs rounded out Hawkeyes in double digits with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
Sophomore Isaia Howard pulled in a career high seven steals while senior Bennett Stirtz dished out a game high six assists. The Hawkeyes forced 25 Bison turnovers as Iowa finished with 40 points off turnovers for the game.
Up next for the Hawkeyes is UMass Lowell at 4 p.m. on Dec 29th in their nonconference finale. Hear the game on KWPC, AM 860 and Fm 95.1 brought to you by Muscatine Power and Water, Meineke Muffler, Community Health Care Dental Clinic and Ed Morse Chevy, Buick and GMC.
