The Iowa Hawkeyes came into Mackey Arena on January 14, 2026, determined to snap a two-game losing streak, but instead left with their third consecutive defeat after falling 79-72 to the No. 5 Purdue Boilermakers. In front of a raucous crowd, bolstered by the return of Purdue’s Paint Crew student section from winter break, the Hawkeyes held the upper hand for much of the contest but couldn’t withstand a late Boilermaker surge. The loss marked the first three-game skid for Iowa head coach Ben McCollum in years, as his squad now looks to regroup ahead of a crucial Big Ten matchup against Indiana.
From the opening tip, Iowa showed no signs of intimidation, jumping out to a quick 6-2 lead thanks to Tavion Banks, who knocked down a pair of triples in the game’s first minute. Banks, who had been ill during the previous loss to Illinois, looked sharp early, and his energy set the tone for the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s offense was humming, opening the contest 4-of-4 from the field and 3-of-3 from deep, pushing the lead to 11-6 before the first timeout. Contributions from Kael Combs, Cooper Koch, and Alvaro Folguieras kept Iowa in control through the opening ten minutes, with the Hawkeyes leading 21-16 midway through the first half.
Purdue, however, wasn’t about to let the visitors steal the spotlight in their own building. The Boilermakers responded with an 8-2 run to briefly take a 24-23 lead, but the first half was characterized by back-and-forth play, neither side able to pull away. Bennett Stirtz, who had struggled with slow starts in recent games, finally got on the board with a three at the five-minute mark, then followed it up with a mid-range jumper. Combs capped the half with a late three-pointer, sending the Hawkeyes into the locker room up 34-31. Iowa’s first-half shooting was remarkable—55% from the field and a sizzling 70% from beyond the arc—while seven of eight Hawkeyes who played recorded at least one basket.
“We came out with the right mindset and executed well in the first half,” said McCollum after the game. “Our guys were locked in and gave themselves a chance against a great team.”
The second half saw Iowa extend its lead with a 10-0 run, highlighted by fast-break buckets from Cam Manyawu, pushing the advantage to 48-39 at the 15-minute mark. Manyawu, who finished with 13 points, three rebounds, and three steals, was instrumental in keeping the Hawkeyes’ offense rolling. But as has been the case in recent losses, Iowa’s momentum was short-lived. Purdue answered with an 11-2 run of their own, knotting the game at 50 with just over ten minutes remaining. The atmosphere inside Mackey Arena intensified as the Boilermakers began to find their rhythm, fueled by the home crowd and the relentless energy of their student section.
Bennett Stirtz, who had been hampered by foul trouble in the first half, reasserted himself in the clutch. He finished with a team-high 19 points on 5-of-6 shooting inside the arc, along with three rebounds and four assists. With just under eight minutes left, Stirtz quieted the crowd with an and-one and then buried a deep three over Purdue’s Braden Smith, briefly reclaiming the lead for Iowa at 58-57. But Smith, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, who had been held scoreless in the first half, erupted for 16 second-half points, orchestrating Purdue’s offense and leading his team through a crucial stretch.
Purdue caught fire down the stretch, making nine of their last ten field goals, including an eight-straight made shots run that gave them a five-point cushion with three minutes remaining. Iowa’s defense, which had kept them in the game for much of the night, simply couldn’t get enough stops in crunch time. The Hawkeyes also struggled with ball security, committing 13 turnovers that led to 16 Purdue points, while only forcing nine turnovers and converting them into eight points. The free-throw line proved decisive as well—Purdue was nearly automatic, hitting 19-of-22 attempts, while Iowa managed just 6-of-10.
“We had some costly turnovers and let them get too comfortable late,” McCollum acknowledged. “Against a team like Purdue, you can’t afford those mistakes.”
Kael Combs delivered another strong performance for the Hawkeyes, scoring 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three-point range, and pulling down five rebounds. Cam Manyawu, as mentioned, added 13 points, and Tavion Banks contributed nine points (including three three-pointers), though he fouled out late in the contest as Iowa tried to mount a comeback. Alvaro Folguieras and Cooper Koch chipped in with timely baskets, but it wasn’t enough to offset the Boilermakers’ late-game execution.
For much of the night, Iowa’s offense was more than up to the challenge. The Hawkeyes shot 53% from the field and 48% from deep for the game, matching Purdue’s 53% overall and 43% from three. But the difference-makers were clear: turnovers, free throws, and the Boilermakers’ poise in the final minutes. Iowa led for over 22 minutes compared to Purdue’s 12, but the game’s final moments belonged to the hosts.
The loss drops Iowa to 12-5 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play, while Purdue improves to 16-1 and remains unbeaten in the conference at 6-0. The defeat follows close setbacks against Minnesota and Illinois, both decided by slim margins, underscoring the fine line between victory and defeat in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes’ current three-game losing streak is their longest under Ben McCollum in several years, adding a sense of urgency as they prepare for their next contest.
Looking ahead, Iowa faces a must-win situation on January 17, traveling to Bloomington to take on Indiana. The Hoosiers are also reeling, having lost two straight to ranked opponents, but boast four players averaging double-digit points, including standout guard Lamar Wilkerson (20.2 points per game). For the Hawkeyes, the matchup represents both a challenge and an opportunity to right the ship before the season’s midpoint.
“We’ve got to learn from this and move on,” McCollum said. “The Big Ten doesn’t get any easier, but I believe in our group.”
With the conference race heating up and every game carrying postseason implications, the Hawkeyes will need to tighten up defensively and limit mistakes if they hope to avoid a deeper slide. One thing’s for sure: their resilience and offensive firepower give them a fighting chance in every contest—now it’s about finishing the job when it matters most.
