Iowa Defeats Washington 84 to 74 for Fifth Straight Win in Big Ten Play

SEATTLE, Washington -- Iowa continued its strong midseason surge Wednesday night as

Bennett Stirtz scored 22 points and the Hawkeyes closed the game on a decisive run to defeat Washington 84 to 74 at Alaska Airlines Arena.

The breaking update reflects Iowa’s fifth consecutive victory and another second half performance that reinforced the program’s growing momentum in Big Ten play. Stirtz connected on four 3 pointers and consistently stretched Washington’s defense, while Alvaro Folgueiras added 16 points to give Iowa reliable scoring balance on the road.

Iowa improved to 16 and 5 overall and 6 and 4 in conference action, strengthening its NCAA Tournament outlook as the season enters its critical stretch. Tavion Banks finished with 11 points and Cooper Koch scored all 11 of his points after halftime as the Hawkeyes leaned on depth and execution late. Banks also saw a notable streak end when he missed a free throw late in the first half, snapping a run of 30 consecutive makes that had him within four of the program record shared by Chris Street in 1993 and Jordan Bohannon in 2018.

Washington built early control behind one of its most efficient halves of the season, shooting 20 of 26 from the field in the opening 20 minutes, a 76.9 percent clip that ranks as the third best first half shooting performance in the Big Ten since the 2018 to 19 season. The Huskies led by as many as seven early in the second half after Franck Kepnang’s dunk with 18:41 remaining.

That advantage unraveled quickly. Washington went more than seven minutes without a field goal and committed two turnovers during an 18 to 4 Iowa run that flipped the game. The Hawkeyes took a 63 to 56 lead with 12:59 remaining and never relinquished control, showcasing the poise and late game efficiency that has defined their recent stretch.

Hannes Steinbach led Washington with 20 points and 12 rebounds, recording his 15th double double of the season, the most by a freshman in program history. Isaiah Stewart previously held the freshman benchmark with 14 during the 2019 to 20 season. Zoom Diallo contributed 16 points, a career high 12 assists and six rebounds, while Wesley Yates III added 15 points. Washington fell to 12 and 11 overall and 4 and 8 in conference play as second half execution again proved costly.

The latest timeline underscores the contrast between the two teams. Iowa shot just well enough overall but dominated critical stretches, while Washington followed its historic first half by shooting 9 of 25 from the field after intermission. The Huskies now face mounting pressure in the conference race as they search for consistency on both ends of the floor.

What this means moving forward is significant for Iowa, which has now positioned itself firmly in the middle of the Big Ten standings with upward mobility. The Hawkeyes have combined perimeter shooting with improved defensive discipline during their winning streak, a formula that could translate into postseason stability.

Next steps are clear for both programs. Iowa returns home to host Northwestern on Sunday, looking to extend its winning streak and continue climbing the conference table.

Washington travels to UCLA on Saturday, aiming to regroup and convert strong starts into complete performances as the season progresses.