Iowa Surges Past Ohio State in Big Ten Matchup

Hawkeyes use dominant first half to secure 74-57 victory over Buckeyes

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Iowa Hawkeyes used a strong first-half performance to pull away from the Ohio State Buckeyes, winning 74-57 in an important Big Ten conference matchup. Iowa's Brian Stirtz scored 22 points and Alvaro Folgueiras added 20, as the Hawkeyes outscored the Buckeyes 35-9 over the final 10 minutes of the first half to take a 14-point lead into the break. Ohio State was without starting center Christoph Tilly due to an ankle injury, and leading scorer Bruce Thornton was held to just 10 points after averaging 29 in his previous three games.

Why it matters

This win helps Iowa maintain its position in eighth place in the Big Ten standings, securing a crucial double-bye for the conference tournament. The loss is a setback for Ohio State, which was looking to build momentum heading into the postseason.

The details

Iowa used a 28-3 run over 10 minutes in the first half to turn a 12-point deficit into a 14-point halftime lead. The Hawkeyes outscored the Buckeyes 44-18 in the paint and forced six Ohio State turnovers in the opening half. Devin Royal and John Mobley Jr. returned to the Ohio State lineup, but the Buckeyes struggled without the presence of Christoph Tilly in the middle.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.

The players

Brian Stirtz

An Iowa player who scored 22 points in the game.

Alvaro Folgueiras

An Iowa player who scored 20 points in the game.

Bruce Thornton

The leading scorer for Ohio State, who was held to just 10 points after averaging 29 in his previous three games.

Christoph Tilly

The starting center for Ohio State, who missed the game due to an ankle injury.

Devin Royal

An Ohio State player who returned to the lineup and scored 16 points.

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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)

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of depth and interior presence in the Big Ten, as Iowa's ability to dominate the paint and force turnovers proved to be the difference against an Ohio State team missing a key starter.