Iowa’s Tavion Banks (6) looks to score against Western Michigan forward Max Burton (10) Dec. 14, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (PHOTO/Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen)
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Bennett Stirtz and reserves Alvaro Folgueiras and Brendan Hausen all scored 13 points to power Iowa to a 91-51 romp over Western Michigan on Sunday.
Stirtz added six assists for the Hawkeyes (9-2), who are unbeaten in seven home games. Hausen shot 4 for 7 from 3-point range.
Cam Manyawu and reserve Tate Sage scored 11 each for Iowa, which bounced back from a 66-62 road loss to No. 4 Iowa State last time out.
Jalen Griffith and reserve Carson Vis each scored 11 to pace the Broncos (5-6), now 1-5 on the road. Jayden Brewer added 10 points.
Manyawu had the final two baskets in a game-opening 8-0 run. Griffith answered with five straight points for Western Michigan, but Sage sank back-to-back 3-pointers in a 22-3 surge for a 34-10 advantage with 8:21 left in the half.
Stirtz had 10 points by halftime, Folgueiras scored nine and the Hawkeyes closed with a 9-0 run to up their advantage to 52-16. Iowa made 14 of its first 20 shots, while the Broncos missed 14 of their first 18.
Stirtz and Cooper Koch hit 3-pointers to push the lead to 42 in the first two minutes of the second half. Koch hit another 3 to give the Hawkeyes their largest lead at 79-29 with 8:39 remaining.
Iowa guard Brendan Hausen (15) steps back before attempting a 3-pointer as Western Michigan forward Hudson Ward (8) defends Dec. 14, 2025 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (PHOTO/Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen)
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH BEN MCCOLLUM
“I thought we came out well. Offensively, we looked pretty good. Defensively, solid. Not elite energy, but executed, probably better concentration than there was energy. The second half was good outside of the last 10-12 minutes.
IOWA GAME NOTES
Iowa never trailed in a 91-51 victory over Western Michigan on Sunday afternoon inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The 40-point victory is Iowa’s largest of the season.I
The Hawkeyes’ 9-2 start is the best for the program since the 2020-21 season (12-2 record).
Iowa had five players land in double figures: Bennett Stirtz 13, Alvaro Folgueiras 13, Brendan Hausen 13, Cam Manyawu 11, Tate Sage 11 The team had 11 players score in the game and got 49 points from its reserves.
Hausen’s 13 points are a season high, which included a season-best four 3s.
Stirtz also had a team-high six assists – his sixth game with 5+ assists this season.
Sage has been in double figures in two of the last three games and in three total games this season.
The Hawkeyes shot 65.6 percent (21-of-32) from the floor in the first half and 55.9 percent (33-of-59) for the game.
Iowa set a season high with 14 3-point field goals with six different players making at least one triple.
Iowa finished with 24 assists on its 33 field goals and committed just 6 turnovers.
The Hawkeyes scored the first eight points on a dunk and three layups to force a WMU timeout at the 17:58 mark. Iowa used a 22-3 run over a 5:35 stretch, including 15 straight, to push its lead to 34-10 at the 8:21 mark.
WMU had a scoring drought of 4:23 midway through the first half.
The Hawkeyes made 11-of-15 field goals to start the game.
Iowa limited WMU to 16 first-half points – a season-low by an opponent – and just six total field goals on 20.7 percent shooting. The 16 points are the fewest allowed in a half since 2015 (16 vs. Nebraska).
Up next
Iowa: Hosts Bucknell on Saturday.
Western Michigan: Hosts Buffalo on Saturday.
Iowa Grandstand Sports 