Iowa men’s basketball’s win streak ends in 77-70 loss at Maryland

All things come to an end, and Iowa men’s basketball’s six game win streak ended Wednesday in College Park, Md.

The Hawkeyes has just one non-Quad 1 opponent over a two-week, four game stretch. That lone opponent was Maryland, a team that’s won just four of its last five games before Wednesday night, and it put up a fight against the Hawkeyes.

Even with guard Bennett Stirtz’s takeover capabilities, the Hawkeyes’ win streak ended in a 77-70 loss to the Terrapins. The game marks Iowa’s first Quad 3 loss of the season.

The Hawkeyes and Terrapins battled through 10 different lead changes and 10 ties throughout the game, before an 8-0 Maryland run late in the second half pushed it beyond Iowa’s reach.

Iowa’s defense forced 14 turnovers against Maryland, but only scored nine points off the opportunities. The Hawkeyes also recorded just five fast-break points.

Andre Mills and David Coit combined for 41 points for Maryland. Meanwhile, Stirtz recorded 32 points for the second straight game. The senior point guard and guard Tavion Banks, who scored 13, were the only two Iowa players in double figures.

Iowa forward Alvaro Folgueiras, who’s reached double figures in three of Iowa’s last four games, didn’t score against Maryland, and recorded four rebounds and three assists. Banks led the Hawkeyes on the glass, collecting eight boards, but Maryland outrebounded Iowa by 10.

The Hawkeyes now have three straight games against Quad 1 opponents, including back-to-back ranked matchups against No. 13 Purdue and No. 7 Nebraska. Iowa sits in eighth in the Big Ten standings — the final spot of the conference tournament’s double-bye.

Iowa hosts the Boilermakers in a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday for a 4 p.m. tipoff.

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