Iowa basketball takeaways from tight Cy-Hawk defeat

There are no moral victories in sports, but there was a lot to like from the 23rd-ranked Iowa basketball team in Ames despite a 66-62 loss at No. 4 Iowa State.

Losing in the Cy-Hawk game is a tough pill to swallow, but some context is necessary here. The Hawkeyes hung around and battled for 40 minutes on the road against a top-five team, nearly pulling the upset at the end. If a couple of bounces go Iowa’s way, they very well could have come out on top. Those bounces went the Cyclones’ way, and Iowa dropped to 8-2 on the season.

Advertisement

Even with the loss, there were some positive takeaways for Ben McCollum’s team. Here are the biggest takeaways from the Hawkeyes’ tight road defeat at Iowa State.

Iowa basketball answered all night

After a great first half, where Iowa took an eight-point lead into the locker room, the Cyclones responded in a big way. They opened the second half with a 16-0 run, turning an eight-point deficit into an eight-point lead. Iowa had every reason and excuse to fold and let the game slip away right then and there. Iowa basketball teams in the past would’ve done just that. But, this team showed why it’s different.

Advertisement

The Hawkeyes responded, getting back within two points on multiple occasions. While they couldn’t close the deal in the end, this was a very encouraging sign for this team. They took Iowa State’s best punch and punched right back. Despite the result, this is a culture-building game for McCollum. When you face Iowa, they’re going to make you earn it. The Hawkeyes will be a better team going forward because of their experience in this game.

Tavion Banks impresses

Despite playing the fewest minutes of any Iowa starter, Banks was the most impactful starter for the Hawks in this game. In just 20 minutes of game action, Banks scored a team-leading 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field. He had four fouls, which no doubt led to his lack of minutes, but he shined in the opportunity that he got. Banks was active defensively and seemed to have an answer offensively whenever Iowa needed it.

Advertisement

The Hawkeyes are looking for a consistent second option offensively, and Banks made his campaign for that position in this game. This was an excellent game for the senior forward, and a night he can build off of going forward. Iowa will need Banks to play like this in conference play, and he showed he’s capable of doing it against elite teams on Thursday night.

Bennett Stirtz struggled

For basically the first time all season, Benett Stirtz looked human in this game. He scored just 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting. Stirtz did pitch in five rebounds and four assists, but he also tied for the team lead with three turnovers. He didn’t score in the second half until the 1:38 mark, when he made a big three to make it a one-point game. A lot of credit needs to go to the Iowa State defense, which made Stirtz work for it all night. But, his minutes might be an issue, too.

Advertisement

Stirtz is known for playing all 40 minutes every night, a feat he accomplished in this loss. While that’s an admirable trait, it’s not sustainable as the competition ramps up for the Hawkeyes. Stirtz looked gassed for most of the second half, leading to the Hawkeyes struggling to find an offensive rhythm without their star point guard fresh. Even if it’s just a minute here or a minute there, finding some time to get Stirtz a small breather every night would really benefit Iowa. They need their star to be fresh and ready to take over down the stretch of these close games.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney

This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa basketball takeaways from tight Cy-Hawk defeat