nebraska vs iowa: Stirtz's late surge lifts Hawkeyes 57-52 in Iowa City
Iowa City, Feb. 17, 2026 (ET) — Bennett Stirtz poured in 25 points and Cooper Koch added 10 as Iowa held on for a 57-52 victory over No. 9 Nebraska on Tuesday night. The emotional home win prompted Hawkeye fans to storm the court after a defensive, low-scoring affair that featured long shooting droughts and a decisive rebounding edge for the hosts.
Stirtz's late burst secures the win
Stirtz scored 10 of Iowa's final 14 points, taking control down the stretch to blunt Nebraska's comeback attempts. His jumper with 5: 38 remaining put the Hawkeyes up 47-45, and he followed 40 seconds later with a step-back 3 that forced Nebraska into a longer chase. Iowa did not make a field goal over the final 4: 59 of the game, but Stirtz's late scoring had already provided enough breathing room.
Cooper Koch's steady interior presence and contributions on the boards helped Iowa maintain possession and manage the clock in the closing minutes. The Hawkeyes survived despite a cold-shooting second half — they were 7 of 28 from the field after halftime and just 3 of 13 from deep.
Shooting droughts, rebounding edge and hostile atmosphere
Both teams struggled to find consistent offense, particularly after the break. Nebraska went 9 of 23 in the second half and connected on only 2 of 12 three-point attempts. The Cornhuskers missed eight of their last 11 shots and endured an 11 1/2-minute stretch in which they managed just one field goal.
Where Iowa separated itself was on the glass. The Hawkeyes dominated the boards 37-24 for the game, including a 19-6 rebound advantage in the first half. That rebounding superiority led to a 14-2 run late in the opening period that pushed Iowa to a 33-28 halftime lead. Tavion Banks paced the effort on the glass with 10 rebounds, converting secondary chances and limiting Nebraska's opportunities on the offensive glass.
Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort led his team with 13 points and hit two 3-pointers that pushed him to a single-season program mark of 90 triples. His return to Iowa City — his first since transferring — drew intense reaction from the crowd, and he faced a vocal student section throughout the night. Jamarques Lawrence added 11 points for the Cornhuskers.
Momentum, standings and what this means next
The win improves Iowa to 19-7 overall and 9-6 in Big Ten play, snapping a two-game skid that included losses to Maryland and Purdue. Nebraska fell to 22-4 and 11-4 in conference play, a stretch that now includes four defeats in six outings.
Beyond the records, the victory provided a boost to Iowa's posture in the league: a gritty defensive performance and dominant rebounding night against a ranked, dangerous rival. Iowa's ability to grind out possessions late and rely on veterans for key buckets proved decisive in a game where offensive rhythm was scarce for both sides.
The crowd's court-storming celebration underscored the emotional stakes of the rivalry matchup and gave the Hawkeyes renewed energy as the stretch run of the conference schedule approaches. For Nebraska, the loss raises questions about how to sustain earlier-season momentum after recent lapses in scoring and consistency.
Neither team offered easy answers in a tight, defensive struggle, but Iowa's late execution and control of the glass made the difference on Tuesday night in Iowa City.
