Alvaro Folguieras scored a season-high 20 points to secure Iowa's first 20-win season since 2021-22.
After scoring no more than seven points in three of his last four games, Iowa basketball's Alvaro Folguieras decided to change that on Wednesday.
The junior was the spark the Hawkeyes desperately needed, and his season-high 20 points helped Iowa secure its first 20-win campaign since the 2021-22 season.
Folguieras was the main headline on this night, but three other Hawkeyes also reached double figures. Bennett Stirtz continued his decorated campaign with another 20-point performance, and Tavion Banks (10 points) and Cam Manywau (12 points) rounded out the starting lineup.
Iowa improves to 20-8 overall and 10-7 in Big Ten play with the victory.
First Half
Slow starts have plagued Iowa in many of its home games in conference play, and Wednesday was no different. After a ferocious start in Madison, the Hawkeyes showed little confidence in front of their home fans - not converting a field goal until the 14:24 mark. This allowed Ohio State to build a 14-2 lead before some of the fans made it to their seats.
Just as the Carver-Hawkeye crowd was growing restless, Iowa responded with a 19-1 scoring run to take a 21-15 lead. The Hawkeyes made 6 of 7 field goal attempts during this stretch, but it was also fueled by their defense (the Buckeyes committed three turnovers).
Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler called timeout to settle his team down, but Iowa continued to wreak havoc on whatever offensive game plan he and his staff prepared. The Hawkeyes' run stretched to 26-3 (31-18 lead) over a 9:47 stretch, forcing the Buckeyes to call a rare second first half timeout.
Ohio State made a couple of buckets to stem the tide, but a Cam Manyawu layup in the final seconds of the period allowed Iowa to soar into the break with a comfortable 37-23 lead.
Despite not scoring a field goal in the first five minutes of the game, the Hawkeyes finished the half with a scorching 54.2% from the floor while holding the Buckeyes to 31%. Iowa finished the half on a 35-9 scoring run.
Second Half
Ohio State opened the half with a 7-3 run to build some quick momentum, but Ben McCollum called a timeout and inserted Alvaro Folguieras into the ballgame. The decision paid off in the first half, and the former Horizon League Player of the Year responded by tallying seven points in the first five minutes of the second to help the Hawkeyes build a 51`-32 edge.
The Buckeyes tried to hang tight, but without any production from leading scorer Bruce Thornton, they had no chance. Thornton was held without a bucket until the second half, and he could only watch as Folguieras and Co. continued to pour it on - evidenced by Folguieras' right-hand hammer over Colin White.
The dunk killed whatever morale Ohio State had, and the Hawkeyes cruised to victory.
Up Next
The Hawkeyes return to action on Saturday, Feb. 28 for a road matchup against Penn State. The Nittany Lions are in the midst of another rough campaign and will enter the contest at 11-17 overall and 2-15 in league play.
Tip off is set for 11:00 a.m. CST on Big Ten Network.