College Basketball Game of the Night: Iowa Beats USC in a Thriller

By Elias Meredith

1/29/26 - Sportz Nation

Photo by Nick Rahlman/The Gazette via AP

Wednesday night, the USC Trojans finished their Midwest trip in Iowa after a narrow two-point win over Wisconsin last Sunday. USC looked to bring momentum into the matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes came into the matchup 10-1 at home, which made them favorites. Senior guards Bennett Stirtz and Tavion Banks led the way for Iowa, each scoring 20 in the comeback victory.

The first half was full of scoring runs. USC got off to a fast start. The Trojans went on a 14-3 run to start the game, and held Iowa without a field goal until the 11:51 mark. The Hawkeyes would then proceed to go on an 11-3 run to cut USC’s lead 4.

USC responded, going on a 6-0 run on their own to extend their back to double digits, but Iowa finished the half out strong, closing on a 13-4 run.

Graduate student forward Chad Baker-Mazara led the way for the Trojans in the first half. The Dominican Republic native scored 11 points, including 3 threes.

Iowa's Bennett Stirtz and Tavion Banks each scored 8 points in the first half.

Iowa took their first lead of the game on a Bennett Stirtz three to open up the second half. They hold onto the lead for most of the second half, even getting their lead up to 17.

USC would go on a late second half scoring run to take their first lead of the second half. USC would go on a 17-5 run to take the lead, with 7 seconds left in regulation. The run was fueled by USC graduate student guard Kam Woods. The Robert Morris transfer scored 15 straight points, exploding for a season-high 33 points in the game.

With 7 seconds left, Iowa head coach Ben McCollum drew up a play to get the ball in the hands of Stirtz. Stirtz drew a foul with 4 seconds and closed the game out at the charity stripe.

Key to Victory: The Senior Hawkeyes

Bennett Stirtz and Tavion Banks each scored 20+ points for the second time this season. The Hawkeyes are 2-0 this season when their leading scorers each score at least 20.

Next for the Hawkeyes: Sunday, February 1 at Oregon Ducks

Next for the Trojans: Saturday, January 31 vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Thank you for reading!

Elias Meredith (@EAM _55)