DES MOINES, Iowa (Interstat) — Iowa overwhelmed Bucknell 94-39 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Principal Park. The Hawkeyes improved to 10-2 while the Bison fell to 3-10. Iowa seized control with a 43-21 halftime lead and never relented, forcing 25 Bucknell turnovers which it converted into 40 points. Alvaro Folgueiras led Iowa with 17 points, while Kael Combs added 13 and Tavion Banks scored 16. The Hawkeyes shot 60.3% from the floor and tallied 19 steals. Bucknell, which shot just 36.6%, was led by Ruot Bijiek’s nine points. The Bison’s 39 points marked a season low. Attendance was 8,177. Iowa next hosts Massachusetts-Lowell on Dec. 29, while Bucknell visits Holy Cross on Dec. 31.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Interstat) — The Iowa Hawkeyes delivered a dominant, wire-to-wire performance fueled by relentless defensive pressure, overwhelming the Bucknell Bisons 94-39 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Principal Park. From the opening tip, Iowa established a pace and physicality that Bucknell could not match. The Hawkeyes forced the Bisons into 25 turnovers, converting those miscues into a staggering 40 points. Iowa’s 19 steals fueled a devastating transition attack that produced 19 fastbreak points, consistently turning Bucknell’s offensive struggles into easy opportunities at the other end. The game’s decisive stretch came early in the first half. After Bucknell’s Ruot Bijiek, a native of Waukee, Iowa, hit two quick three-pointers to give the Bisons a brief 6-2 lead, Iowa responded with a suffocating 23-2 run over the next eight minutes. The Hawkeyes’ defense completely smothered Bucknell’s offense, generating a flurry of steals and deflections. During the run, Iowa’s Alvaro Folgueiras and Bennett Stirtz were central figures. Stirtz dished out four assists, while Folgueiras scored seven points, including a dunk off a steal, as the Hawkeyes built a 25-8 advantage from which Bucknell never recovered. Iowa’s offensive execution was crisp and efficient throughout. The Hawkeyes shot 60.3% from the field (38 of 63) and assisted on 19 of their 38 made baskets. They dominated inside, outscoring Bucknell 50-20 in the paint and securing 10 offensive rebounds. Defensively, they held the Bisons to a frigid 36.6% shooting (15 of 41) and a 21.7% clip from three-point range. Kael Combs led a balanced Iowa scoring effort with 13 points, adding three assists. Alvaro Folgueiras provided a major spark off the bench with a game-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Tavion Banks recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Bennett Stirtz orchestrated the offense with eight points and six assists. Brendan Hausen added nine points in 15 minutes. For Bucknell, which fell to 3-10, the offensive struggles were profound. The Bisons managed only 21 points in the first half and 18 in the second, finishing with a season-low offensive rating of 58.3 points per 100 possessions. Ruot Bijiek led the team with nine points. Guard Jayden Williams contributed six points and three assists but also committed five of the team’s turnovers. Iowa improved to 10-2 on the season, showcasing the form that has made it one of the nation’s most efficient offensive teams. The Hawkeyes led 43-21 at halftime and continued to extend their lead in the second half, outscoring Bucknell 51-18 after the break. The Hawkeyes’ defensive intensity never waned, as they held Bucknell without a field goal for stretches of over five minutes in both halves. The Bisons, coming off a 51-38 win at Rider, were held to their lowest point total of the season and nearly 30 points below their season average. An announced crowd of 8,177 at Principal Park saw Iowa cover the pregame spread with ease and send Bucknell to its seventh loss in eight games. The Hawkeyes will look to carry this momentum into their final nonconference tune-up against UMass Lowell on Dec. 29. Bucknell opens Patriot League play at Holy Cross on Dec. 31.

Preview: Bucknell Bison at Iowa Hawkeyes DES MOINES, Iowa (Interstat) — A struggling Bucknell team faces a steep challenge against a surging Iowa squad when the Bison visit the Hawkeyes in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Principal Park. Iowa (9-2) enters the contest with a significant record advantage over Bucknell (3-9). The Hawkeyes are coming off a dominant 91-51 victory over Western Michigan on Dec. 14, where they showcased balanced scoring and stout defense. Their two losses this season are by a combined 19 points to then-Iowa State and Michigan State. Bucknell snapped a six-game losing streak with a 51-38 road win at Rider on Dec. 9 but has not played since. The Bison’s defense shined in that victory, but they have struggled offensively for much of the season, failing to reach 70 points in eight of their 12 games. A key matchup will feature the teams’ standout guards. Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz has been a consistent force, averaging 17.5 points and 3.8 assists per game. He scored 25 points in a win over Maryland and logged 40 minutes in a narrow loss to Iowa State. For Bucknell, Achile Spadone is the primary catalyst. He leads the team in scoring and playmaking, coming off a 14-point, 3-assist effort in the win at Rider. His ability to penetrate and create will be critical against Iowa’s defense. The game at Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs Triple-A baseball team, offers a unique neutral-site setting in Iowa’s capital city. It serves as a final tune-up for both teams before holiday breaks. Iowa will host Massachusetts-Lowell on Dec. 29, while Bucknell opens Patriot League play at Holy Cross on Dec. 31. Based on records and performance trends, Iowa is a heavy favorite. The Hawkeyes’ efficient offense, averaging over 78 points per game, will test a Bucknell defense that allows an average of 75.6 points. The Bison must control the tempo and find scoring beyond Spadone to keep pace. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon.