In a battle of Big Ten resilience, the Iowa men's basketball team extended its winning streak to five games with a gritty 84-74 road victory over the Washington Huskies. The Wednesday night clash at Alaska Airlines Arena proved to be a tale of two halves, as Iowa basketball overcame a sluggish start and a double-digit deficit to silence the Seattle crowd.
First Half: Huskies Take Control
Early on, it appeared Washington would dictate the terms of the Iowa vs Washington matchup. Led by freshman standout Hannes Steinbach and sophomore guard Zoom Diallo, the Huskies exploited gaps in the Iowa defense, shooting an blistering 76.9% from the field in the opening period. Washington’s aggressive rim-attacking and alley-oop dunks caught the Hawkeyes off guard, leaving Ben McCollum’s squad trailing by seven at the break.
Second Half: The Stirtz Show
The script flipped entirely after halftime. Iowa men's basketball, currently experiencing its best start since the 2018-19 season, relied on senior leader Bennett Stirtz to stabilize the ship. Stirtz, coming off a career-high 32-point performance against Oregon, once again spearheaded the offense with 22 points on efficient 8-of-13 shooting.
Key factors in the comeback included:
Defensive Lockdown: After a "discombobulated" first half, Iowa’s defense—ranked 4th nationally in scoring defense—tightened up, forcing turnovers and limiting Washington’s second-chance opportunities.
Bench Production: The Hawkeyes' depth proved superior, with Alvaro Folgueiras providing a spark with 16 points in limited minutes.
Free Throw Precision: Iowa capitalized on every opportunity at the stripe, continuing their season-long trend as one of the Big Ten's most disciplined teams.
Game Summary & Stats
| Team | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Final |
| Iowa Hawkeyes | 33 | 51 | 84 |
| Washington Huskies | 40 | 34 | 74 |
Top Performers:
Bennett Stirtz (IOWA): 22 PTS, 5 AST
Alvaro Folgueiras (IOWA): 16 PTS, 18 MIN
Hannes Steinbach (WASH): 22 PTS, 14 REB (15th double-double of the season)
Zoom Diallo (WASH): 10 AST (First half)
What’s Next for Iowa Basketball?
This victory pushes Iowa to a 17-5 (7-4 Big Ten) record, keeping them squarely in the conversation for a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes now return home for a highly anticipated, sold-out Valentine's Day matchup against No. 12 Purdue.
Washington (12-11) will look to bounce back as they head to Los Angeles to face UCLA this Saturday.
Following the big win in Seattle, the Big Ten landscape has become even more crowded. As of early February 2026, the Iowa men's basketball team is riding a hot streak that has significantly improved their standing in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
Big Ten Men's Basketball Standings (Top Half)
The Hawkeyes have vaulted into the upper tier of the conference. While Michigan and Illinois are currently battling for the top spot, Iowa is firmly in the "Second Tier" alongside perennial powerhouses.
| Rank | Team | Conference Record | Overall Record | Streak |
| 1 | Michigan | 10-1 | 20-1 | W6 |
| 2 | Illinois | 10-1 | 19-3 | W9 |
| 3 | Nebraska | 9-2 | 20-2 | L2 |
| 4 | Michigan State | 9-3 | 19-4 | L1 |
| 5 | Purdue | 8-3 | 18-4 | W1 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 8-3 | 16-6 | W2 |
| 7 | UCLA | 7-4 | 15-7 | L1 |
| 8 | Iowa | 7-4 | 17-5 | W5 |
What the Numbers Mean for the Hawkeyes
The Surge: Iowa's five-game winning streak (including the recent Iowa vs Washington victory) has saved their season after a shaky start in December. They are now just three games back from the conference lead.
NET Rankings: As of February 5, the Hawkeyes have moved up to No. 19 in the NET rankings, a crucial metric for NCAA Tournament seeding.
NCAA Tournament Outlook: Most "Bracketology" experts currently have Iowa basketball projected as a No. 5 or No. 6 seed, though a strong finish could push them into the top four.
The "McCollum Effect": Head coach Ben McCollum has turned the Hawkeyes into one of the best defensive units in the nation, currently ranked 4th in points allowed (63.0 PPG).
Washington’s Struggle
The loss leaves Washington at 12-11 (4-8 Big Ten). They currently sit in 12th place, hovering near the bottom of the conference with Minnesota and Northwestern, and will likely need a deep run in the Big Ten Tournament to see any postseason action.
Next up for Iowa: A massive home game against No. 12 Purdue on February 14.
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