Imagine a college basketball game where one team scores nearly twice as many points as their opponent—sounds like a blowout, right? Well, that's exactly what happened when Iowa crushed Bucknell 94-39 on December 20, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. But here's where it gets even more intriguing: Iowa's bench player, Alvaro Folgueiras, stole the show by scoring 15 of his 17 points before halftime, setting the tone for a dominant performance. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement game for the Hawkeyes, who showcased their depth with 11 different players scoring, shooting an impressive 60% from the field (38 of 63).
Folgueiras wasn’t alone in his stellar performance. Tavion Banks chipped in 16 points, and Kael Combs added 13, proving Iowa’s offensive firepower was unstoppable. Meanwhile, Bucknell struggled to keep up, shooting just 37% (15 of 41) for the game. Ruot Bijiek led the Bison with nine points, but it wasn’t nearly enough to challenge Iowa’s relentless attack.
And this is the part most people miss: Iowa’s 17-0 run in the first half completely shifted the momentum. Despite Bucknell’s strong 10-2 start in the first three-and-a-half minutes, the Hawkeyes responded with a four-and-a-half-minute stretch that left the Bison reeling. Iowa’s 57% shooting in the first half (16 of 28), including 44% from three-point range (4 of 9), sealed their dominance early.
By the second half, Iowa had already built a 43-21 lead, and they didn’t let up, eventually reaching 51 points on 62.9% shooting (22 of 35). Bucknell’s 40% shooting before the break (8 of 20) highlighted their inability to keep pace with Iowa’s high-octane offense.
Here’s the controversial question: Was this game a true reflection of Iowa’s potential, or did Bucknell simply have an off night? While the Hawkeyes’ performance was undeniably impressive, some might argue that the Bison’s struggles exaggerated the margin of victory. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
Looking ahead, Bucknell (3-10) will try to bounce back when they travel to face Holy Cross on New Year's Eve. Meanwhile, Iowa (10-2) will host UMass Lowell on December 29, aiming to build on this commanding win. For more college basketball updates and AP Top 25 polls, sign up for alerts here: https://www.apnews.com/newsletters. And don’t forget to check out the latest in women’s college basketball at https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball.
