Iowa players discuss win over Ohio State

Nacho Folgueiras' 20 points and Kael Combs' defensive effort lead Hawkeyes to victory

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Iowa basketball team secured a 74-57 victory over Ohio State on Wednesday, with a strong performance from Nacho Folgueiras, the older brother of Alvaro Folgueiras, who scored 20 points. Guard Kael Combs also played a key role, holding Ohio State's Bruce Thornton, who averaged 29 points last week, to just 10 points.

Why it matters

This win over a highly ranked Ohio State team is a significant achievement for the Iowa Hawkeyes, showcasing their defensive prowess and the impact of Nacho Folgueiras' contribution as a visiting player. The game highlights the competitive nature of Big Ten basketball and Iowa's ability to pull off an upset against a conference rival.

The details

Nacho Folgueiras, who was visiting his brother Alvaro in Iowa City, scored 20 points to lead the Hawkeyes to victory. Kael Combs was tasked with guarding Ohio State's Bruce Thornton, who had been averaging 29 points per game, and held him to just 10 points in the game.

  • The game was played on Wednesday evening in Iowa City.

The players

Nacho Folgueiras

The older brother of Alvaro Folgueiras, who was visiting Iowa City and scored 20 points to lead the Hawkeyes to victory.

Kael Combs

The Iowa guard who was assigned to defend Ohio State's Bruce Thornton, holding him to just 10 points in the game.

Bruce Thornton

The Ohio State guard who had been averaging 29 points per game but was held to just 10 points by Kael Combs.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game showcases the depth and competitiveness of the Big Ten conference, with Iowa pulling off an impressive upset over a highly ranked Ohio State team. The contributions of Nacho Folgueiras and the defensive efforts of Kael Combs were key factors in the Hawkeyes' victory.