Minnesota vs Iowa: Gophers stun No. 10 Hawkeyes 87–73 in Iowa City
Minnesota walked into Iowa City on Thursday night and turned a ranked-road test into a statement win, beating No. 10 Iowa 87–73 on Feb. 5, 2026 (ET). The Gophers’ combination of hot three-point shooting and a decisive rebounding edge flipped the game after a tight first quarter and left Iowa chasing from the second period on.
How Minnesota pulled away
The opening 10 minutes looked like a typical Carver-Hawkeye Arena script: Iowa edged in front 25–24 and had the crowd engaged early. Minnesota’s response was immediate and surgical. The Gophers outscored Iowa 25–14 in the second quarter, tightened the paint, and turned every defensive stop into an opportunity to push tempo or find clean perimeter looks.
By halftime, Minnesota had seized control, and the third quarter reinforced it rather than wobbling. The Gophers posted 23 points in the third while Iowa managed 16, stretching the margin to a place where Iowa needed a run—and never found one long enough to change the night.
The shooting story: 10 threes on 13 tries
Minnesota didn’t just shoot well; it produced a near-perfect perimeter night. The Gophers finished 10-for-13 from three (77%), a number that’s hard to overcome even for elite teams at home. Iowa, by contrast, hit 6-for-17 (35%) from deep and couldn’t make up the difference at the line or on the glass.
Minnesota also shot 54% overall (32-for-59), keeping empty possessions to a minimum. Iowa finished at 47% (25-for-53)—not disastrous in a vacuum, but not enough when the opponent is raining threes and owning rebounds.
Rebounding and physicality decided the margins
Minnesota’s biggest “hidden” advantage was on the boards: 38 rebounds to Iowa’s 23, including a steady stream of second chances and extra possessions that kept pressure on Iowa’s defense. That gap mattered because Iowa wasn’t turning Minnesota over at a rate that could offset it.
Both teams finished with 16 assists, so the difference wasn’t ball movement. It was who controlled the possession battle and who converted open looks at a higher clip. Minnesota did both.
The players who swung it
Minnesota’s scoring came from its core, with multiple players hitting double figures and spacing the floor consistently. Iowa had a strong individual night from one star, but the supporting offense didn’t hold up once Minnesota built a cushion.
| Team | Top scorers | Key team stats |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | Grace Grocholski 21, Mara Braun 16, Tori McKinney 12, Amaya Battle 12 | 54% FG, 77% 3PT (10/13), 38 REB |
| Iowa | Ava Heiden 24, Chazadi Wright 17, Hannah Stuelke 12, Journey Houston 10 | 47% FG, 35% 3PT (6/17), 23 REB |
What it means for the Big Ten race
The result tightens the middle of the conference table and gives Minnesota a high-profile road win that will matter for seeding conversations later. Iowa entered the night near the top of the standings and still has plenty of runway, but this game exposes the vulnerability that shows up when the rebounding margin swings hard and the opponent shoots confidently from deep.
For Minnesota, it’s the kind of win that changes how opponents prepare: you can’t collapse inside, because the Gophers will punish it, and you can’t rely on a rebounding edge to steady you, because Minnesota proved it can win that battle in a hostile environment.
What’s next
The immediate question for Iowa is adjustment, not panic: better defensive connectivity to take away clean catch-and-shoot looks, and a more consistent answer on the glass. For Minnesota, the challenge is sustaining the defensive effort and shot quality that traveled so well on the road—because nights like 10-for-13 from three don’t happen by accident, but they also can’t be the only plan.
Sources consulted: NCAA, Big Ten Network, Iowa Athletics, Minnesota Athletics
