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Hawkeyes Blitz Musketeers 81–62
By
Musketeer Madness,
11/15/2025
Xavier couldn’t keep pace with a scorching Iowa offense Friday night, falling 81–62 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as the Hawkeyes shot nearly 57% from the field and dominated the glass in a wire-to-wire performance. Bennett Stirtz led Iowa with 21 points and eight rebounds, setting the tone early and punishing the Musketeers at the rim.
Xavier (2–2) showed fight in the opening minutes, trading leads and even going ahead 15–12 after a strong stretch that included back-to-back threes from Jovan Milicevic. But once Iowa settled in, the Hawkeyes’ physicality took over. Iowa ripped off a commanding 33–14 run to close the first half, fueled by relentless interior scoring and Xavier turnovers. The Musketeers trailed 45–29 at the break, undone by 10 first-half giveaways and Iowa’s 62.5% shooting.
Xavier never found the firepower needed to mount a comeback. Milicevic led the Musketeers with 15 points, while Filip Borovicanin and Tre Carroll added 12 apiece. Xavier shot just 39% overall and 24% from deep, struggling to create clean looks as Iowa’s length and rebounding advantage repeatedly closed possessions. The Musketeers managed only eight fast-break points and were held to 26 points in the paint.
Iowa (3–0) controlled every phase of the game. Stirtz was steady all night, but he had plenty of help. Tavion Banks added 13 points and three steals, while big man Cam Manyawu powered his way to nine points and nine rebounds. Iowa’s bench also erupted for 34 points, with Kael Combs supplying 11 and Alvaro Folgueiras posting an 8-point, 8-rebound line that repeatedly kept Xavier from stringing together momentum.
The Hawkeyes asserted themselves on the glass as well, outrebounding Xavier 41–24 and grabbing eight offensive boards from their frontcourt alone. Iowa finished with 50 points in the paint, routinely carving up Xavier’s defense with backcuts, high-low feeds, and transition attacks. The Musketeers forced turnovers but couldn’t convert them, managing only eight points off Iowa’s miscues compared to 18 allowed on their own 12 turnovers.
Xavier showed brief sparks in the second half — a Carroll three, a Milicevic and-1, and a Malik Messina-Moore corner triple — but every push was met with an Iowa answer. The Hawkeyes stretched the lead to as many as 22 with under 10 minutes remaining, never allowing the Musketeers within single digits. Iowa coasted down the stretch, closing out an early-season statement win in front of 11,678 fans.
Xavier will look to regroup after a cold shooting night and a tough battle on the interior, while Iowa continues its unbeaten start with a convincing showcase of depth, balance, and rim pressure.
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