IOWA CITY — After a tightly contested rivalry loss to Iowa State, Iowa basketball returned to action by obliterating Western Michigan.
The Hawkeyes destroyed the Broncos, 91-51, on Dec. 14 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Western Michigan is not good and entered the matchup 5-5 overall, but Iowa absolutely pummeled the Broncos. The Hawkeyes never trailed and led 52-16 at the halftime break.
Iowa outscored the Broncos by only four points in the second half, but head coach Ben McCollum gave extended rest to some of Iowa’s starters, including Bennett Stirtz. It was a good opportunity for some of Iowa’s reserves and younger players to get playing time.
The Hawkeyes were efficient offensively, shooting 56% from the field and 45% from deep. Meanwhile, Western Michigan was just 30% from field and 25% from deep.
Eleven Hawkeyes got into the scoring column. Bennett Stirtz had 13 points (5-of-8 FG, 2-of-4 3FG) and six assists. Cam Manyawu had 11 points and three rebounds. Tavion Banks somewhat quietly posted a line of five points, six rebounds and three assists.
Iowa outscored Western Michigan 49-24 in bench points. Alvaro Folgueiras had 13 points (5-of-9 FG, 1-of-4 3FG) to go along with four rebounds. Brendan Hausen had 13 points and was 4-of-7 from deep. Tate Sage had 11 points, including three triples.
There was a lot to like. Points in the paint were 38-22 in favor of the Hawkeyes. Iowa six turnovers were tied for a season-low.
One of Iowa’s few flaws in the game was allowing 16 offensive rebounds.
With the victory, Iowa improves to 9-2 overall this season.
The Hawkeyes have two non-power conference opponents on the schedule before the calendar turns to 2026. Iowa plays Bucknell on Dec. 20 in Des Moines and then UMass Lowell on Dec. 29 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Iowa’s ninth win of season
Final: Iowa 91, Western Michigan 51.
Iowa closing in victory
Hawkeyes lead 83-46 with 3:29 to go.
Iowa’s lead grows to 48
The Hawkeyes are up 71-23 with 11:51 to go in the second half. Iowa’s bench has delivered big contributions today. Alvaro Folgueiras has 13 points. Tate Sage has eight points. Brendan Hausen has seven.
Iowa leads by 41
The Hawkeyes are up 61-20 with 15:51 to go in the second half. Bennett Stirtz has a team-high 13 points. Cam Manyawu is also in double-figures with 11 points.
Halftime
Iowa leads 52-16 at the break. A complete dismantling in the first half by Iowa. Nine Hawkeyes in the scoring column, led by Bennett Stirtz with 10 points.
The pummeling continues
Iowa leads 46-16 with 3:26 to go in the first half. Western Michigan is not good, but this has been an absurd half of dominance by the Hawkeyes.
This is a demolition
Iowa leads 34-10 with 7:49 to go in the first half. The Hawkeyes are currently on a 22-3 run. Seven Iowa players are in the scoring column, led by Tage Sage with eight points.
Iowa already pouring it on
Iowa already leads Western Michigan 25-10 with 11:17 to go in the first half. Tate Sage has eight points off the bench, including a pair of triples. Hawkeyes have dominated on both ends of the floor.
Under-16 media timeout
Iowa leads 10-5. Cam Manyawu has four points. The Hawkeyes are shooting 5-of-7 (71%) from the field.
Fast start for Iowa
Hawkeyes out to an 8-0 start with a little more than two minutes off the clock. Iowa is a perfect 4-of-4 from the field.
Tipoff at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Iowa wins the tip and we’re off.
1:50 p.m. – Iowa basketball starters vs. Western Michigan
Regular starting lineup for the Hawkeyes: Bennett Stirtz, Kael Combs, Cooper Koch, Tavion Banks and Cam Manyawu.
1:15 p.m. – Ben McCollum talks Iowa basketball’s loss to Iowa State
12:30 p.m. – Takeaways from Iowa basketball’s Cy-Hawk loss
12:00 p.m. – What channel is Iowa vs. Western Michigan on today?
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: Fubo (free trial)
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa basketball vs Western Michigan score and recap, Hawkeyes win big
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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