Overview
- Iowa blitzed UCLA with 56% first-half shooting to build a 40-22 halftime lead and a margin that swelled to 24 points.
- UCLA’s Donovan Dent scored 25 points, including 20 after the break, fueling an 18-2 surge that cut the deficit to 61-57 with 3:13 left.
- The Hawkeyes closed with a 13-4 finish, hitting all eight late free throws, capped by a Tavion Banks dunk and a long Bennett Stirtz three.
- Iowa improved to 12-2 (2-1 Big Ten) as first-year coach Ben McCollum praised his team’s buy-in and a charged Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd.
- Bruins coach Mick Cronin blasted a "soft" first half and tossed his coat during a timeout, with defensive and rebounding concerns lingering as Skyy Clark left with a hamstring injury.