Three quality looks.
That’s what Iowa got on the last possession of Tuesday’s game against Minnesota. Trailing by three, the Hawkeyes dribbled the ball down the court with time running out. Bennett Stirtz pulled up for three and missed. Cam Manyawu grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked it out to Brendan Hausen, who missed a three. Manyawu pulled down another offensive rebound and found Stirtz wide open at the top of the key for a game-tying three as time expired.
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His shot bounced off the front iron and fell harmlessly to the Williams Arena court as Gopher fans stormed the floor to celebrate a 70-67 win. Iowa came so close to an incredible comeback victory after trailing by 14 with six and a half minutes to play. But it was all for naught, as the Hawkeyes couldn’t get that last shot to fall.
There were things to like, and there were definitely areas for Ben McCollum to work on as Iowa prepares to host Illinois on Sunday. Here are the biggest takeaways from Iowa’s close road loss to Minnesota.
Kael Combs and Isaia Howard step up
Jan 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Isaia Howard (23) drives into Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Langston Reynolds (6) during the second half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Kael Combs and Isaia Howard were the only reasons this game didn’t get out of hand in the first half. They were the two Hawkeyes with a scoring touch in the first 20 minutes, and Iowa only trailed by seven at the half because of them. Combs would finish the game with a career-high 14 points on 6-10 shooting from the field, while Howard pitched in ten points off the bench on 5-13 shooting.
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On a night where many of Iowa’s stars struggled for most or all of the game, Combs and Howard were the underrated heroes. It’s a shame that their efforts will get lost in the final result, but this is the kind of confidence boost that could be a game-changer for them going forward. Iowa needs its depth to be more consistent, and this duo was just that on Tuesday.
Hawks played too sloppily to win
Jan 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Ben McCollum reacts during the first half at Williams Arena against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Going on the road and winning in the Big Ten is already hard enough. It’s nearly impossible when you turn the ball over 14 times and commit 22 fouls. That’s what Iowa did on Tuesday, and ultimately it’s what led to a disappointing result. The Hawkeyes didn’t play clean enough to beat Minnesota on the road. They passed up on open shots, which led to turnovers, way too often. They also got nabbed for too many fouls, leading to 28 free-throw attempts for the Gophers.
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The turnovers were really the crucial difference in this game. Minnesota scored 20 points off of those 14 Iowa turnovers, including 11 fast-break points. Iowa mustered just 13 points off of ten Minnesota turnovers, and only scored two fast-break points all night. The Hawkeyes are capable of a way cleaner brand of basketball, and they know it. Expect them to come out with a renewed sense of purpose to hold onto the ball on Sunday.
Iowa needs to find consistent secondary scoring
Jan 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Bennett Stirtz (14) shoots as Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Isaac Asuma (1) defends during the second half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
In the first half, Iowa’s top four leading scorers entering the night had a combined zero points. While Bennett Stirtz would pour in 21 second-half points and spearhead the late comeback effort, the other guys struggled to get going. Cam Manyawu, Tavion Banks, and Alvaro Folgueiras combined for just five points on 1-9 shooting from the field on Tuesday. It’s tough to win games when three of your top four scorers all have off-nights at the same time.
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However, when Stirtz was bottled up, it was very apparent that the Hawkeyes didn’t have a secondary playmaker to pick up the offense and get things out of the mud. That cost them big time in this game, as it took way too long for the offense to get into a rhythm. Iowa needs to find that consistent secondary scorer and playmaker to keep defense honest. That could definitely be Banks, Folguerias, or Howard, who have all shown some great things this season.
Or maybe it could be Brendan Hausen. The Kansas State transfer hasn’t seen many minutes recently, but got into the game with the Hawkeyes trailing in the second half on Tuesday, and immediately made a difference. He finished with just three points in seven minutes, but the Hawkeyes’ late rally started when he entered the game. He’s a sharpshooter, which forces the defense to pay extra attention to him, opening up the court for everyone else. Hausen should see more minutes and a bigger role going forward.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa basketball takeaways from tight loss vs. Minnesota
