Iowa Hosts USC in Men's Basketball Matchup

Hawkeyes return from break to face Trojans in final game before West Coast trip

Jan. 27, 2026 at 2:07pm

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The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team will host the USC Trojans on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. This is the first time the two programs have met in Iowa City since 1982, when the Hawkeyes won 66-55. Last season, USC defeated Iowa 99-89 in Los Angeles. Both teams will also honor former head coach George Raveling, who led both programs before retiring.

Why it matters

This game marks the start of a tough stretch for the Hawkeyes, who will play 11 guaranteed games after returning from an eight-day break. The Trojans enter the matchup as the national leader in free throw attempts and second in the Big Ten in blocks per game, presenting a unique challenge for Iowa.

The details

Iowa (14-5, 4-4 Big Ten) is coming off a 68-62 win over Rutgers on January 20, while USC (15-5, 4-5 Big Ten) has two players averaging double-figure scoring in Chad Baker-Mazara (19.2 ppg) and Ezra Ausar (16.2 ppg). Rodney Rice led USC with 20.3 ppg before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in December. Baker-Mazara and Iowa's Tavion Bank were teammates at Northwest Florida State College in 2022-23.

  • The game will tip off at 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
  • Iowa last faced USC in Los Angeles last season, with the Trojans winning 99-89.
  • The two programs last met in Iowa City in 1982, when the Hawkeyes won 66-55.

The players

George Raveling

Former head coach who led both Iowa and USC programs before retiring.

Chad Baker-Mazara

USC's leading scorer, averaging 19.2 points per game.

Ezra Ausar

USC's second-leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points per game.

Rodney Rice

USC player who led the team with 20.3 points per game before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in December.

Tavion Bank

Iowa guard/forward who played with USC's Chad Baker-Mazara at Northwest Florida State College in 2022-23.

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What they’re saying

“I think part of it was just getting a mental break from having to prepare for games. I think then it's just like, 'OK, this is the stretch where we've got 11 guaranteed games,' and so we just need to make sure that we use some of the stuff that we did throughout that break and become a little better for it.”

— Ben McCollum, Iowa head coach

What’s next

After facing USC, the Hawkeyes will travel to Oregon for a game on January 31.

The takeaway

This matchup between Iowa and USC marks the start of a critical stretch for the Hawkeyes, who will play 11 guaranteed games after returning from a break. The Trojans present a unique challenge with their national-leading free throw attempts and strong shot-blocking ability, making this an important early-season test for Iowa as they prepare for their West Coast road trip.