Maryland forward Elijah Saunders (13) runs down a loose ball ahead of Iowa forward Cooper Koch (8) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Bennett Stirtz scored 25 points and Iowa beat Maryland 83-64 on Saturday to give coach Ben McCollum his first Big Ten victory.

Stirtz was 10-of-17 shooting with four 3-pointers. Cam Manyawu added 12 points and seven rebounds. Tate Sage also had 12 points with Cooper Koch scoring 11 for the Hawkeyes (8-1, 1-1 Big Ten), who were beaten by No. 7 Michigan State 71-52 in their conference opener on Tuesday.

Pharrel Payne had 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for his third double-double this season for the Terrapins (6-4, 0-1), who lost in coach Buzz Williams’ first Big Ten Conference matchup. David Coit added 13 points and Andre Mills 11.

Iowa shot 54% and made 9 of 22 3-pointers while scoring 21 points off 18 turnovers.

The Terrapins went to the free-throw line 38 times, making 24, to 6 of 12 for Iowa.

A 14-point Iowa halftime lead quickly ballooned to 24 over the first five minutes of the second half after a 12-2 run with Manayawu leading the way with seven points. After scoring just one point in the first half, Manayawu had 11 of Iowa’s first 16 in the second. Thereafter the lead never dipped below 17.

Stirtz scored 13 points in the opening half when Hawkeyes took the lead early and led by 17 midway through before going into the break ahead 44-30.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH BEN MCCOLUM
“I thought we came out with good energy, specifically offensively. We were stagnant (last game) and we worked on it for a few days. I thought our defense was solid for the most part in that first and second half.  We still had a few rebounding issues late that we need to continue to correct, but I thought we did a better job to that point and then the game got stretched out a little bit.

“They are a good team and Pharrel Payne is really good. Big, strong, physical, big. He’s probably going to be an All-Big Ten kid. Good win and onto the next now and hopefully we’ll be ready.”

GAME NOTES

• The Hawkeyes downed Maryland, 83-64, on Saturday to notch their first Big Ten victory of the season. The win moves Iowa’s record to 8-1 overall, 1-1 in league play.
  • The win snapped the Terps’ three game-winning streak in the series.
• Iowa had four players finish in double figures in the win: Bennett Stirtz 25, Cam Manyawu 12, Tate Sage 12 and Cooper Koch 11.
  • Manyawu scored 10 of Iowa’s first 12 points of the second half.
• Stirtz recorded his fourth 20-point game of the season, finishing with 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting with four 3-pointers. He also had two steals.
  • His 10 field goals were a season high and the most by a Hawkeye this season.
• Manyawu and Tavion Banks tied for the team lead with seven rebounds apiece.
• The Hawkeyes improve to 6-0 at home this season.
• Iowa made its first six 3-pointers and 9-of-22 for the game.
• The Hawkeyes shot above 50 percent from the field for the first time in three games.
  • Iowa shot 53.2 percent – its sixth game above 50 percent this season.
• Iowa had a 44 to 20 advantage in points in the paint.  
• The Hawkeyes committed 10 turnovers in the game – the fourth game with 10 or fewer turnovers.
• Iowa had 19 assists on 34 field goals with six players with at least two assists.
• The team finished with a season low six free throws and 12 free throw attempts.
• The Hawkeyes limited Maryland to two points over the first 5:41 of the second half and 10 points over the first 9:30 of the second half. 
• Iowa went on a 12-0, 17-2 and 19-4 run over a 4:31 stretch in the first half to build a 30-13 lead. Iowa made seven straight field goals during the stretch.
  • The Hawkeyes made 11 of their first 14 shots in the game.

Up next

Maryland is host to No. 3 Michigan next Saturday.

Iowa plays at Iowa State on Thursday.