UCLA

IOWA

Stirtz scores 27 points, No. 25 Iowa holds off a comeback try by UCLA in 2nd half for a 74-61 win

AP
Jan 03, 2026

Iowa Hawkeyes CITY, Iowa (AP) Bennett Stirtz scored 27 points and No. 25 Iowa held off a second-half comeback attempt by UCLA Bruins for a 74-61 win on Saturday.

The Hawkeyes (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten) led by as many as 24 points in the first half and 20 points early in the second half before the Bruins (10-4, 2-1) stormed back.

UCLA went on an 18-2 run early in the second half and closed within 61-57 with 3:13 remaining before Iowa pulled away. The Hawkeyes closed the game with a 13-4 run, capped by Stirtz’s long 3-pointer as the shot clock was expiring with four seconds left.

Iowa, which won its fourth consecutive game, made just 8 of 22 shots in the second half.

Alvaro Folgueiras scored 13 points for the Hawkeyes. Isaia Howard had 11 points.

Donovan Dent led UCLA with 25 points, including 20 in the second half.

The Hawkeyes dominated the Bruins in the first half. Iowa had an early 18-3 run in the opening 9½ minutes for a 20-7 lead, and kept the pressure on UCLA by shooting 56% in the half on the way to a 40-22 halftime lead. The Hawkeyes, whose biggest lead in the half was 38-14 with 1:43 to play, were 7 of 16 from 3-point distance, while UCLA had just nine field goals overall in the half

Stirtz had 14 points in the first half on 5-for-6 shooting, and added four assists.

Iowa’s defense held the Bruins to 37.5% shooting, forcing nine turnovers. UCLA coach Mick Cronin was so frustrated with the Bruins’ play he tossed his suit coat toward the bench in anger after calling a timeout with 44 seconds left in the half.

UCLA, in its second season in the Big Ten, was making its first appearance in Iowa City since 1990.

UCLA: At Wisconsin on Tuesday.

Iowa: At Minnesota on Tuesday.

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1st Half
UCLA
Bruins
22
IOWA
Hawkeyes
40

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Xavier Booker vs. Cam Manyawu (Donovan Dent gains possession)
19:42		Tyler Bilodeau misses three point jump shot
19:40		Bennett Stirtz defensive rebound
19:14	+2	Tavion Banks makes two point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)	0-2
18:40		Donovan Dent misses two point jump shot
18:38		Bruins offensive rebound
18:37		Skyy Clark misses two point jump shot
18:35		Tyler Bilodeau offensive rebound
18:33		Tyler Bilodeau turnover (lost ball) (Cooper Koch steals)
18:12		Bennett Stirtz turnover (bad pass) (Skyy Clark steals)
17:59		Cooper Koch personal foul (Tyler Bilodeau draws the foul)
17:57	+2	Tyler Bilodeau makes two point jump shot (Donovan Dent assists)	2-2
17:44		Cooper Koch misses three point jump shot
17:42		Skyy Clark defensive rebound
17:32	+2	Xavier Booker makes two point dunk (Skyy Clark assists)	4-2
17:11	+2	Tavion Banks makes two point jump shot (Kael Combs assists)	4-4
16:58		Tyler Bilodeau misses two point dunk
16:56		Kael Combs defensive rebound
16:47		Xavier Booker shooting foul (Cooper Koch draws the foul)
16:47	+1	Cooper Koch makes regular free throw 1 of 2	4-5
16:47	+1	Cooper Koch makes regular free throw 2 of 2	4-6
16:25		Donovan Dent turnover (bad pass) (Kael Combs steals)
16:01		Alvaro Folgueiras turnover (bad pass) (Donovan Dent steals)
15:52	+2	Eric Dailey Jr. makes two point jump shot	6-6
15:32		Kael Combs misses three point jump shot
15:30		Eric Dailey Jr. defensive rebound
15:26		Alvaro Folgueiras blocks Xavier Booker's two point layup
15:24		Bennett Stirtz defensive rebound
15:13	+3	Alvaro Folgueiras makes three point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)	6-9
14:50		Tyler Bilodeau misses two point layup
14:48		Alvaro Folgueiras defensive rebound
14:38	+3	Alvaro Folgueiras makes three point jump shot (Tavion Banks assists)	6-12
14:19		Tavion Banks shooting foul (Donovan Dent draws the foul)
14:19		TV timeout
14:19		Donovan Dent misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:19		Donovan Dent misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:19		Tavion Banks defensive rebound
13:50	+2	Isaia Howard makes two point jump shot (Alvaro Folgueiras assists)	6-14
13:28		Tavion Banks shooting foul (Steven Jamerson II draws the foul)
13:28		Steven Jamerson II misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:28	+1	Steven Jamerson II makes regular free throw 2 of 2	7-14
13:02		Bennett Stirtz misses three point jump shot
13:00		Brandon Williams defensive rebound
12:46		Trent Perry misses two point layup
12:44		Steven Jamerson II offensive rebound
12:35		Brandon Williams misses two point jump shot
12:33		Cooper Koch defensive rebound
12:10	+3	Alvaro Folgueiras makes three point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)	7-17
11:47		Trent Perry turnover (lost ball)
11:47		TV timeout
11:17		Tate Sage misses three point jump shot
11:17		Hawkeyes turnover (shot clock violation)
10:57		Donovan Dent turnover (bad pass) (Bennett Stirtz steals)
10:42		Cooper Koch turnover (bad pass) (Jamar Brown steals)
10:37		Tyler Bilodeau turnover (bad pass) (Bennett Stirtz steals)
10:31	+2	Bennett Stirtz makes two point layup	7-19
10:31		Donovan Dent shooting foul (Bennett Stirtz draws the foul)
10:31	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 1 of 1	7-20
10:13		Trent Perry misses two point jump shot
10:11		Isaia Howard defensive rebound
9:57		Cooper Koch misses three point jump shot
9:55		Jamar Brown defensive rebound
9:40		Tyler Bilodeau misses three point jump shot
9:38		Bennett Stirtz defensive rebound
9:38		Jamar Brown personal foul (Bennett Stirtz draws the foul)
9:16		Bennett Stirtz turnover (bad pass) (Eric Dailey Jr. steals)
9:12	+3	Skyy Clark makes three point jump shot (Trent Perry assists)	10-20
8:42	+2	Bennett Stirtz makes two point jump shot	10-22
8:19	+2	Xavier Booker makes two point layup (Trent Perry assists)	12-22
8:01		Skyy Clark personal foul (Alvaro Folgueiras draws the foul)
7:47		Jamar Brown personal foul (Cam Manyawu draws the foul)
7:47		TV timeout
7:40	+3	Isaia Howard makes three point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)	12-25
7:12		Trent Perry misses two point jump shot
7:10		Cam Manyawu defensive rebound
6:55		Kael Combs turnover (bad pass) (Eric Dailey Jr. steals)
6:50		Skyy Clark misses three point jump shot
6:48		Bruins offensive rebound
6:36		Tyler Bilodeau misses two point jump shot
6:34		Bennett Stirtz defensive rebound
6:18	+3	Bennett Stirtz makes three point jump shot (Kael Combs assists)	12-28
6:14		Hawkeyes 30 second timeout
6:04		Donovan Dent turnover (bad pass) (Cam Manyawu steals)
5:36		Jump ball. (Hawkeyes gains possession)
5:35		Isaia Howard misses three point jump shot
5:33		Donovan Dent defensive rebound
5:28		Bennett Stirtz personal foul (Donovan Dent draws the foul)
5:26		Skyy Clark misses two point jump shot
5:24		Kael Combs defensive rebound
5:01		Isaia Howard misses three point jump shot
4:59		Cam Manyawu offensive rebound
4:53		Isaia Howard misses three point jump shot
4:51		Donovan Dent defensive rebound
4:43		Kael Combs personal foul (Brandon Williams draws the foul)
4:37	+2	Tyler Bilodeau makes two point jump shot (Donovan Dent assists)	14-28
4:23	+3	Bennett Stirtz makes three point jump shot (Kael Combs assists)	14-31
3:59		Tyler Bilodeau turnover (lost ball) (Cooper Koch steals)
3:48		Alvaro Folgueiras misses three point jump shot
3:46		Skyy Clark defensive rebound
3:37		Tyler Bilodeau offensive foul (Cam Manyawu draws the foul)
3:37		Tyler Bilodeau turnover (offensive foul)
3:37		TV timeout
3:27	+2	Alvaro Folgueiras makes two point layup	14-33
3:04		Bennett Stirtz personal foul (Skyy Clark draws the foul)
2:56		Tyler Bilodeau turnover (lost ball) (Alvaro Folgueiras steals)
2:38	+3	Bennett Stirtz makes three point jump shot	14-36
2:11		Trent Perry misses two point jump shot
2:09		Isaia Howard defensive rebound
1:43		Trent Perry shooting foul (Cooper Koch draws the foul)
1:43	+1	Cooper Koch makes regular free throw 1 of 2	14-37
1:43	+1	Cooper Koch makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-38
1:21	+3	Trent Perry makes three point jump shot (Brandon Williams assists)	17-38
0:47	+2	Isaia Howard makes two point hook shot	17-40
0:44		Bruins 30 second timeout
0:37	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point jump shot	19-40
0:35		Hawkeyes 30 second timeout
0:08		Cooper Koch misses two point layup
0:06		Tavion Banks offensive rebound
0:06		Tavion Banks misses two point layup
0:04		Trent Perry defensive rebound
0:01	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point layup (Skyy Clark assists)	21-40
0:01		Alvaro Folgueiras shooting foul (Donovan Dent draws the foul)
0:01	+1	Donovan Dent makes regular free throw 1 of 1	22-40
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
UCLA
Bruins
39
IOWA
Hawkeyes
34

Time		Play	Score
19:44	+2	Skyy Clark makes two point jump shot	24-40
19:20		Cooper Koch misses two point jump shot
19:18		Cam Manyawu offensive rebound
19:15	+2	Cam Manyawu makes two point layup	24-42
18:57		Cam Manyawu personal foul
18:52		Skyy Clark misses three point jump shot
18:50		Tyler Bilodeau offensive rebound
18:37		Donovan Dent misses two point jump shot
18:35		Xavier Booker offensive rebound
18:28		Xavier Booker turnover (bad pass)
18:03	+2	Cooper Koch makes two point layup	24-44
17:47		Eric Dailey Jr. misses three point jump shot
17:45		Cam Manyawu defensive rebound
17:45		Xavier Booker personal foul
17:32		Kael Combs misses three point jump shot
17:30		Cam Manyawu offensive rebound
17:30		Xavier Booker shooting foul (Cam Manyawu draws the foul)
17:30		Cam Manyawu misses regular free throw 1 of 2
17:30	+1	Cam Manyawu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-45
17:17		Eric Dailey Jr. misses three point jump shot
17:15		Bruins offensive rebound
17:00	+2	Eric Dailey Jr. makes two point layup (Donovan Dent assists)	26-45
16:28		Cam Manyawu turnover (bad pass)
16:19		Brandon Williams offensive foul
16:19		Brandon Williams turnover (offensive foul)
16:10		Kael Combs turnover (lost ball) (Skyy Clark steals)
16:04	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point layup (Skyy Clark assists)	28-45
15:57		Bennett Stirtz turnover (lost ball) (Donovan Dent steals)
15:51	+2	Brandon Williams makes two point dunk (Donovan Dent assists)	30-45
15:50		Donovan Dent personal foul
15:50		TV timeout
15:41		Cooper Koch misses three point jump shot
15:39		Tyler Bilodeau defensive rebound
15:26		Isaia Howard personal foul
15:06	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point jump shot	32-45
14:44		Cooper Koch misses three point jump shot
14:42		Isaia Howard offensive rebound
14:40		Bennett Stirtz misses three point jump shot
14:38		Eric Dailey Jr. defensive rebound
14:15	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point layup	34-45
13:59		Tyler Bilodeau shooting foul (Isaia Howard draws the foul)
13:59	+1	Isaia Howard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	34-46
13:59	+1	Isaia Howard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-47
13:42	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point layup	36-47
13:12		Bennett Stirtz turnover (bad pass) (Trent Perry steals)
12:51		Tyler Bilodeau misses three point jump shot
12:50		Trent Perry offensive rebound
12:50		Bennett Stirtz personal foul
12:46	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point jump shot	38-47
12:16		Tate Sage misses three point jump shot
12:14		Trent Perry defensive rebound
12:03		Trent Perry misses two point jump shot
12:03		Eric Dailey Jr. offensive rebound
12:03		Tavion Banks personal foul
12:03		Eric Dailey Jr. misses two point jump shot
12:01		Cam Manyawu defensive rebound
12:00		Trent Perry personal foul
12:00		TV timeout
11:38		Tavion Banks misses three point jump shot
11:36		Kael Combs offensive rebound
11:23		Isaia Howard misses three point jump shot
11:21		Eric Dailey Jr. defensive rebound
11:11	+2	Tyler Bilodeau makes two point jump shot (Donovan Dent assists)	40-47
10:51		Tavion Banks turnover (lost ball) (Trent Perry steals)
10:45	+2	Trent Perry makes two point layup	42-47
10:44		Hawkeyes 30 second timeout
10:44		TV timeout
10:26		Trent Perry shooting foul (Bennett Stirtz draws the foul)
10:26	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-48
10:26	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 2 of 2	42-49
10:12		Tavion Banks blocks Donovan Dent's two point layup
10:10		Alvaro Folgueiras defensive rebound
10:05		Tavion Banks turnover (lost ball)
9:57		Tavion Banks personal foul
9:47		Donovan Dent misses two point jump shot
9:45		Hawkeyes defensive rebound
9:22	+2	Bennett Stirtz makes two point jump shot	42-51
9:12		Alvaro Folgueiras personal foul
9:05		Isaia Howard personal foul (Tyler Bilodeau draws the foul)
9:05	+1	Tyler Bilodeau makes regular free throw 1 of 2	43-51
9:05	+1	Tyler Bilodeau makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-51
8:41		Brandon Williams shooting foul (Tate Sage draws the foul)
8:41	+1	Tate Sage makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-52
8:41	+1	Tate Sage makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-53
8:23		Bennett Stirtz shooting foul (Trent Perry draws the foul)
8:23	+1	Trent Perry makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-53
8:23	+1	Trent Perry makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-53
8:02		Alvaro Folgueiras misses two point jump shot
8:00		Donovan Dent defensive rebound
7:53		Donovan Dent misses two point layup
7:53		Tyler Bilodeau offensive rebound
7:53		Tate Sage shooting foul (Tyler Bilodeau draws the foul)
7:53		TV timeout
7:53		Tyler Bilodeau misses regular free throw 1 of 1
7:53		Isaia Howard defensive rebound
7:28		Tate Sage turnover (lost ball) (Eric Dailey Jr. steals)
7:11		Trent Perry misses three point jump shot
7:09		Hawkeyes defensive rebound
6:53		Eric Dailey Jr. personal foul (Alvaro Folgueiras draws the foul)
6:53	+1	Alvaro Folgueiras makes regular free throw 1 of 2	46-54
6:53	+1	Alvaro Folgueiras makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-55
6:39	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point layup	48-55
6:23	+2	Tate Sage makes two point layup (Alvaro Folgueiras assists)	48-57
6:23		Tyler Bilodeau shooting foul (Tate Sage draws the foul)
6:23		Tate Sage misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:23		Alvaro Folgueiras offensive rebound
6:05		Alvaro Folgueiras misses three point jump shot
6:03		Cooper Koch offensive rebound
5:59		Cooper Koch misses two point jump shot
5:57		Kael Combs offensive rebound
5:37		Isaia Howard misses two point jump shot
5:35		Donovan Dent defensive rebound
5:27	+3	Jamar Brown makes three point jump shot (Tyler Bilodeau assists)	51-57
5:17		Trent Perry personal foul (Kael Combs draws the foul)
5:17		Kael Combs misses regular free throw 1 of 2
5:17		Kael Combs misses regular free throw 2 of 2
5:17		Isaia Howard offensive rebound
5:15		Isaia Howard misses two point layup
5:13		Jamar Brown defensive rebound
4:57		Isaia Howard personal foul (Tyler Bilodeau draws the foul)
4:57	+1	Tyler Bilodeau makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-57
4:57	+1	Tyler Bilodeau makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-57
4:44	+2	Bennett Stirtz makes two point jump shot	53-59
4:43		Hawkeyes 30 second timeout
4:32		Cooper Koch blocks Donovan Dent's two point layup
4:30		Alvaro Folgueiras defensive rebound
4:02	+2	Isaia Howard makes two point jump shot	53-61
3:39	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point jump shot	55-61
3:17		Alvaro Folgueiras turnover (lost ball) (Jamar Brown steals)
3:11	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point layup (Jamar Brown assists)	57-61
2:46		Alvaro Folgueiras misses three point jump shot
2:44		Tavion Banks offensive rebound
2:44		Jamar Brown personal foul (Tavion Banks draws the foul)
2:44		TV timeout
2:44	+1	Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-62
2:44	+1	Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-63
2:31		Alvaro Folgueiras blocks Donovan Dent's two point layup
2:29		Brandon Williams offensive rebound
2:29		Brandon Williams offensive foul
2:29		Brandon Williams turnover (offensive foul)
2:01		Donovan Dent shooting foul (Bennett Stirtz draws the foul)
2:01	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-64
2:01	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-65
1:53	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point jump shot	59-65
1:43		Eric Dailey Jr. personal foul (Tavion Banks draws the foul)
1:43	+1	Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-66
1:43	+1	Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-67
1:19	+2	Donovan Dent makes two point layup	61-67
1:00		Jamar Brown personal foul (Bennett Stirtz draws the foul)
1:00	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-68
1:00	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-69
0:55		Tyler Bilodeau misses three point jump shot
0:53		Brandon Williams offensive rebound
0:47		Jamar Brown misses three point jump shot
0:45		Alvaro Folgueiras defensive rebound
0:41	+2	Tavion Banks makes two point dunk (Bennett Stirtz assists)	61-71
0:34		Trent Perry misses three point jump shot
0:32		Tavion Banks defensive rebound
0:04	+3	Bennett Stirtz makes three point jump shot	61-74
0:00		End of period

+ 3

Bennett Stirtz makes three point jump shot