NCAAB · Final

Wolverines Edge Hawkeyes in Close Contest

Thursday, March 5, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Michigan Wolverines 71, Iowa Hawkeyes 68, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.

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Quick answers

Who won Michigan Wolverines vs Iowa Hawkeyes?

Michigan Wolverines beat Iowa Hawkeyes 71-68 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 5, 2026.

Who was favored in Michigan Wolverines vs Iowa Hawkeyes?

Michigan Wolverines were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -440 (about 81% implied). The favorite won.

In a tightly contested matchup, the Michigan Wolverines narrowly defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 71-68 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 6, 2026. This victory marked Michigan's continued dominance in the season, bringing their record to an impressive 29-2, while Iowa fell to 20-11. The Wolverines have been a formidable force this season, showcasing a strong performance as they entered the game with a recent record of 9-1 over their last ten games, including a two-game winning streak. They averaged 83.8 points scored and allowed 68.9 points during that stretch, demonstrating both offensive prowess and defensive capability.

Iowa, on the other hand, has struggled recently, with a record of 6-4 in their last ten games and a current losing streak of one. They averaged 71.5 points scored while allowing 70.1 points in that same span. The Hawkeyes' home performance has been slightly better, with a home record of 4-1, but they have faced challenges on the road, going 2-3 in away games recently. This matchup was particularly significant for Iowa, as they were looking to avenge a previous loss to Michigan from December 7, 2024, where they fell short with a score of 83-85.

The game unfolded with a series of scoring plays that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Aday Mara made a pivotal 21-foot jumper to push Michigan ahead, followed by a layup from Cam Manyawu that tied the game at 66. The Wolverines then took the lead with a three-foot alley-oop dunk from Mara, assisted by Elliot Cadeau. Free throws from Yaxel Lendeborg and Tate Sage contributed to the final score, solidifying Michigan's victory.

The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Michigan favored by 9.5 points, with a total set at 146.5. The odds reflected Michigan's strong season performance, with a moneyline of -440 for the Wolverines and +340 for the Hawkeyes. This context highlighted the expectations surrounding Michigan's ability to secure a win, which they ultimately achieved.

In terms of injuries, the game report did not specify any key players missing for either team, which allowed both squads to field their strongest lineups. The conditions in Carver-Hawkeye Arena were typical for a late-season college basketball game, with an energized crowd supporting the home team, hoping for a turnaround in their season's fortunes.

Fans watching the game were treated to a showcase of talent, particularly from Michigan's Aday Mara, who played a crucial role in the final moments. The close scoreline and the intensity of the match made it a notable fixture in the college basketball calendar, reflecting the competitive nature of the NCAAB landscape.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	MICH -9.5	146.5 o -112 / u -108	Michigan Wolverines -440 · Iowa Hawkeyes +340

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsBennett Stirtz21Iowa Hawkeyes
AssistsBennett Stirtz4Iowa Hawkeyes
ReboundsCam Manyawu8Iowa Hawkeyes
PointsYaxel Lendeborg16Michigan Wolverines
AssistsElliot Cadeau9Michigan Wolverines
ReboundsYaxel Lendeborg8Michigan Wolverines

Recent form

Iowa Hawkeyes

Last 10: 6-4Streak L171.5 scored · 70.1 allowed per game4-1 at home

L69-71at Penn State Nittany LionsFeb 28
W74-57vs Ohio State BuckeyesFeb 26
L71-84at Wisconsin BadgersFeb 22
W57-52vs Nebraska CornhuskersFeb 18
L57-78vs Purdue BoilermakersFeb 14
L70-77at Maryland TerrapinsFeb 11
W76-70vs Northwestern WildcatsFeb 8
W84-74at Washington HuskiesFeb 5
W84-66at Oregon DucksFeb 2
W73-72vs USC TrojansJan 29

Michigan Wolverines

Last 10: 9-1Streak W283.8 scored · 68.9 allowed per game5-1 away

W84-70at Illinois Fighting IlliniFeb 28
W77-67vs Minnesota Golden GophersFeb 25
L63-68at Duke Blue DevilsFeb 21
W91-80at Purdue BoilermakersFeb 17
W86-56vs UCLA BruinsFeb 14
W87-75at Northwestern WildcatsFeb 12
W82-61at Ohio State BuckeyesFeb 8
W110-69vs Penn State Nittany LionsFeb 5
W83-71at Michigan State SpartansJan 31
W75-72vs Nebraska CornhuskersJan 28

Standings

Team	Overall	Games behind	In conference
Michigan	37-3	-	19-1
Nebraska	28-7	4	15-5
Michigan State	27-8	4	15-5
Illinois	28-9	4	15-5
Wisconsin	24-11	5	14-6
Purdue	30-9	6	13-7
UCLA	24-12	6	13-7
Ohio State	21-13	7	12-8
Iowa	24-13	9	10-10
Indiana	18-14	10	9-11
Minnesota	15-18	11	8-12
USC	18-14	12	7-13
Washington	16-17	12	7-13
Rutgers	14-20	13	6-14
Northwestern	15-19	14	5-15
Oregon	12-20	14	5-15
Maryland	12-21	15	4-16
Penn State	12-20	16	3-17

Box score

Stat	Michigan Wolverines	Iowa Hawkeyes
Field goals	24-45	25-64
Field goal %	53	39
Three-pointers	6-12	7-26
Three-point %	50	27
Free throws	17-22	11-12
Free throw %	77	92
Rebounds	38	25
Offensive rebounds	8	10
Defensive rebounds	30	15
Assists	14	15
Steals	5	7
Blocks	5	2
Turnovers	18	5
Team turnovers	2	0
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	5	26
Fast-break points	6	4
Points in the paint	32	34
Fouls	14	22
Largest lead	10	6
Lead changes	14	14
Time in front	63	30

How the scoring went

2nd Half42-37Cam Manyawu makes layup (Alvaro Folgueiras assists)
2nd Half43-37Morez Johnson Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half43-39Bennett Stirtz makes 19-foot jumper
2nd Half43-41Alvaro Folgueiras makes layup
2nd Half43-43Isaia Howard makes 3-foot dunk (Tavion Banks assists)
2nd Half43-45Bennett Stirtz makes 10-foot floating jump shot (Cooper Koch assists)
2nd Half43-46Bennett Stirtz makes free throw 1 of 1
2nd Half44-46Yaxel Lendeborg makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half45-46Yaxel Lendeborg makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half47-46Aday Mara makes 0-foot tip in layup
2nd Half47-48Tate Sage makes driving layup
2nd Half49-48Aday Mara makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (Elliot Cadeau assists)
2nd Half50-48Elliot Cadeau makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half51-48Elliot Cadeau makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half52-48Yaxel Lendeborg makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half52-51Bennett Stirtz makes 26-foot three point jumper (Tavion Banks assists)
2nd Half54-51Morez Johnson Jr. makes layup
2nd Half56-51Morez Johnson Jr. makes layup (Elliot Cadeau assists)
2nd Half57-51Elliot Cadeau makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half58-51Elliot Cadeau makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half58-53Tavion Banks makes layup (Bennett Stirtz assists)
2nd Half60-53Aday Mara makes layup (Elliot Cadeau assists)
2nd Half62-53Morez Johnson Jr. makes layup (Elliot Cadeau assists)
2nd Half63-53Morez Johnson Jr. makes free throw 1 of 1
2nd Half63-56Isaia Howard makes 26-foot three point jumper (Bennett Stirtz assists)
2nd Half63-57Bennett Stirtz makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half63-58Bennett Stirtz makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half63-60Tavion Banks makes 6-foot jumper
2nd Half64-60Elliot Cadeau makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half64-61Tavion Banks makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half64-62Tavion Banks makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half64-64Cam Manyawu makes 1-foot dunk (Bennett Stirtz assists)
2nd Half66-64Aday Mara makes 21-foot jumper
2nd Half66-66Cam Manyawu makes layup (Isaia Howard assists)
2nd Half68-66Aday Mara makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Elliot Cadeau assists)
2nd Half69-66Yaxel Lendeborg makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half69-67Tate Sage makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half69-68Tate Sage makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half70-68Yaxel Lendeborg makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half71-68Yaxel Lendeborg makes free throw 2 of 2