Rutgers University
9-10,2-6Big Ten
Iowa
14-5,4-4Big Ten
Men's Basketball Falls Short at Iowa 68-62
Jan 20 | Men's Basketball
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Rutgers men's basketball battled throughout but could not overcome a late Iowa push, falling 68–62 Tuesday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Scarlet Knights kept the game tight from start to finish, with 11 lead changes and eight ties, but Iowa made key plays down the stretch to secure the Big Ten victory. Rutgers drops to 9–10 overall and 2–6 in conference play, while the Hawkeyes improved to 14–5 (4–4 Big Ten).
Rutgers trailed 31–24 at halftime before responding with a strong second-half effort. The Scarlet Knights shot 47.8 percent from the field after the break and briefly took the lead midway through the half, highlighted by a 10–0 run early in the second period.
Darren Buchanan Jr. led Rutgers with 17 points, finishing 5-of-8 from the floor and 6-of-7 at the free throw line. Tariq Francis added 15 points, while Emmanuel Ogbole contributed eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds to anchor the Scarlet Knights on the glass. Freshmen Kaden Powers and Lino Mark played with energy with Powers scoring eight and Mark adding seven points, three assists and a few steals.
Iowa was led by Bennett Stirtz, who scored a game-high 20 points, and Tate Sage, who added 17 points including timely three-pointers late in the second half. The Hawkeyes shot 36.8 percent from beyond the arc and converted 13-of-16 free throws.
Rutgers cut the deficit to two points in the final minute after Francis knocked down a pair of free throws, but Iowa sealed the game at the line in the closing seconds.
The Scarlet Knights finished with a 43.2 percent shooting clip and held a 31–24 edge in bench points, but Iowa's execution late proved decisive.
Rutgers returns home to continue Big Ten play on Friday as it hosts Indiana at Jersey Mike's Arena on FS1.
